When the veins near the surface of the skin are twisted and enlarged, they are called varicose veins. These veins are often colored blue or purple and sometimes even break away from the skin.
Varicose veins occur when the valves in the veins are weakened. Healthy veins in the leg have a one-way valve that allows blood to flow from the leg to the heart against gravity. When these valves are weakened, blood collects in the leg causing pressure to increase. When this happens, the veins become weak due to the pressure and they also become large and twisted.
People at increased risk of developing them include overweight, pregnant women, or people who regularly stand for long periods of time. Varicose veins also occur in families. The older a person gets, the higher the risk of developing varicose veins.
Some people can develop varicose veins and have no symptoms. However, many people have symptoms and some mild symptoms include itching in the vein and swelling of the feet and ankles. Other mild symptoms include a feeling of heaviness, pain, burning, fatigue, or leg pain. These symptoms may get worse after standing or sitting for a long time.
Some people may experience more severe symptoms, including swelling of the legs, open sores, and light bleeding, as well as swelling and pain in the calf after long periods of standing or sitting. Other symptoms can include skin changes such as changes in color, dandruff, dry, thin skin, and inflammation.
Varicose veins do not usually mean that there is a serious health problem. They are actually quite common, but there is a rare case where they develop into a more serious problem. An example of this is “deep vein thrombosis”, which means that the deeper veins are blocked.