Spider Nevus & Alcoholism

Spider nevus, also called spider angioma, looks like a tiny red spider on the skin and usually shows up on the face and neck. This spiderlike imperfection can sometimes manifest itself in healthy children or pregnant women, according to Dr. Olivier Detry. In his article, "Spider Angiomas," in "The New England Journal of Medicine," he states that the veins are usually associated with liver problems caused by alcoholism.

Causes

• Cirrhosis of the liver brought about by alcoholism or hepatitis most often cause spider nevi to appear. Anyone with cirrhosis has an increased circulating level of estrogen which is the underlying trigger.

Prognosis

• Spider nevi can fade away gradually if the liver disease improves.

Treatment

• A cosmetic treatment for this skin condition is laser therapy.

Geriatric Significance

• As reported by wrongdiagnosis.com, spider nevi can normally appear in the elderly. These skin lesions, however, most likely present themselves on those who have chronic liver disease.

History

• Erasmus Wilson, an English physician, first spotted the skin condition on a patient. Dr. Wilson named it after the insect because of its appearance. It was, however, William Bean who associated spider nevus with alcoholic cirrhosis.