What are those ugly purple and blue veins running through my legs? Why did they swell up like that? And how do I get rid of them? You have questions. Dr. Norton has answers.
What Is a Varicose Vein?
A varicose vein is a swollen, enlarged, and twisting vein that often appears blue or dark purple.
What Causes Varicose Veins?
Faulty valves cause blood to pool or flow in the wrong direction, which causes veins to swell.
What Are the Symptoms?
A majority of the time, varicose veins cause no pain, but other signs and symptoms may include:
- The veins are blue or dark purple
- Achy or heavy legs
- Veins look twisted, swollen, and lumpy (bulging)
- A minor injury to the affected area may bleed longer than normal
- Ankles may swell
- The skin just above the ankle may shrink because the underlying fat has hardened
- Spider veins may appear
- A shiny brown or blue skin discoloration near the varicose veins
- Red, dry, itchy skin in the affected area
- Legs cramps when suddenly standing up
- Restless legs syndrome
- Irregular whitish patches that look like scars show up on the ankles
Who Is at Risk of Getting Them?
Although experts are not sure why the walls of veins stretch or why valves become faulty, they have noticed the following people tend to get varicose veins more often than others:
- Women who are going through menopause
- Individuals over the age of 50
- Pregnant women
- Individuals who stand for long periods
- People with a family history of varicose veins
Are Varicose Veins Dangerous?
Varicose veins may cause you some discomfort or swelling, but they are not dangerous. Typically they are just a cosmetic issue.
There are times, however, when a case is severe enough that a varicose vein ruptures, or develops into varicose ulcers on the skin. These cases require treatment.
Are There Any Complications That Come With Varicose Veins?
A majority of the people who have varicose veins suffer no complications from this condition. However, improper blood flow always carries a risk of complications.
Although rare, complications from varicose veins can include bleeding and inflammation of the vein caused by blood clots.
What Do You Do If You Want to Get Rid of Varicose Veins?
At Evexias Denver, we have found the most successful ways to treat spider veins and varicose veins is with sclerotherapy or Laser Genesis Skin Therapy.
Sclerotherapy is a quick, painless treatment in which a solution is injected into the abnormal vein that causes the vein to collapse and be absorbed by the body. Want to see results? Check out these before and after photos!
Laser Genesis
Laser Genesis is a non-invasive treatment that works by delivering thousands of micro-pulses of light to the top layer of the skin. The warming action caused by the laser shrinks blood vessels and stimulates collagen production.
We Can Help
Are you one of the 23 percent of adults who are affected by varicose veins? We’re here for you. Contact us today for a consultation and see how easy and painless it is to get great-looking legs again!
COVID-19 Update
Many of you have been inquiring about what you should be doing during this COVID-19 pandemic to avoid getting sick. The most important action you can take is to optimize your immune system.
We are reopening our doors to patients, but we have strict guidelines all patients and staff must follow.
We are taking every precaution to keep our staff and patients safe and healthy, and we need your understanding and agreement to make that happen. Please review our new safety policy.