Have you ever seen an enlarged and swollen vein on the back of someone’s legs? If you have then these are varicose veins. They can either be dark purple or blue in colour and they will often look lumpy and twisted to look at.
Not only can varicose veins look unsightly on your legs, but they also come with a variety of other symptoms. Some of the signs and symptoms that you have varicose veins include:
- Legs that feel heavy, that ache and that are just generally uncomfortable
- Ankles and feet that are swollen
- A burning or throbbing feeling in your legs
- Night-time cramps in your legs
- Dry, itchy skin that is thin, over the area of the vein
It is usually the case that your varicose vein symptoms are worse during warmer weather, or if you have been standing up for long periods of time.
Why do they happen?
Another question that people may have about varicose veins is why they happen. Varicose veins are usually caused by weak vein walls and valves. We have tiny one-way valves within our veins which will open to allow blood to pass through the valve, before closing off to prevent the blood from flowing back through the valve.
There are times when the walls of the veins will stretch out, they will lose elasticity, this will cause the valves to weaken. When they are weak, then the blood will leak and flow back through the valve. This means that blood will collect in the veins, which in turn, leaves them swollen, enlarged, creating varicose veins.
It isn’t actually known why the walls in the veins stretch, some people will often just develop the condition for no apparent reason. That said, there are some things that can increase your chances of developing varicose veins at some point in your life. These include:
- Being older aged
- Being overweight
- Being female (great another great ‘feature’ of the X chromosome!)
- Having a close family member who has suffered from varicose veins
- Standing for long periods of time
- Being pregnant
What can I do if I think I have varicose veins?
In the most part, you can manage varicose veins at home, so long as they don’t give you any pain, irritation or discomfort. You can choose a cream to treat varicose veins. They won’t cure your varicose veins but they are designed to help to ensure that your skin feels and looks better. Some of them are very effective.
If the veins are causing real discomfort or you want a permanent solution then you should go see your GP or a qualified dermatologist and ask them for advice. They will want to know your risk factors, they may also want to send you for further investigation with a specialist in treating vascular issues. They are likely to perform an ultrasound on you and take a look at your veins, along with any damage that may be causing the varicose veins. There is also a chance that they will be able to refer you for the right level of treatment to ensure that your varicose veins not only look the best that they can, but that they don’t cause you any discomfort.