03/03/2026
Varicose veins
are the blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. Varicose veins are abnormally enlarged and tortuous veins that are visible just below the surface of the skin. Smaller veins in the skin itself are sometimes called ‘thread veins’ or ‘spider veins’. Sometimes, spider veins can also be due to underlying varicose veins. It is advisable to seek medical advice for these conditions before complications arise.
Varicose veins are due to weakness in the wall of superficial veins, and this leads to stretching. The stretching causes failure of the one-way valves inside the veins. These valves normally only allow the blood to flow up the leg towards the heart. If the valves leak, then blood can flow back the wrong way when standing. This reverse flow (venous reflux) causes increased pressure on the veins, which bulge and become varicose. They may also be caused by occupations that require prolonged standing or weight bearing which increase pressure on the leg veins. They often appear during pregnancy and while they may become less prominent in the weeks after delivery, they tend not to disappear completely. Varicose veins often run in families (the precise form of inheritance is not well understood) and as you get older, they are more likely to occur.
The raised pressure in the vein system caused by the leaky valves frequently gives rise to aching, throbbing, itching and a feeling of fullness. Inflammation and bleeding from the veins can occur if they are traumatised. The increased pressure can sometimes cause complications such as eczema, brown discolouration, ulceration and scarring.
Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. Varicose veins are abnormally enlarged and tortuous veins that are visible just below the sur...
