Varicose Veins

Heredity is a known risk factor for developing varicose veins.

Pregnancy increases the risk due to hormone changes, increased weight and blood volume.

Circulation from the legs is dependent on movement, therefore standing for long periods or being sedentary can increase the risk of developing varicose veins.
Varicose veins are also associated with being overweight, due to the increased pressure.

If you have a blood clot in the leg, the valves may be damaged, which increases the risk of varicose veins later.

Varicose veins are more common in the elderly as the vein valves deteriorate and the elasticity of the vessels also deteriorates with age.

You can have varicose veins without any symptoms. The symptoms vary, but common symptoms of varicose veins in the legs are:

• Aching, heavy legs.
• Appearance of spider veins (telangiectasia) in the affected leg.
• Ankle swelling, especially in the evening.
• A brownish-yellow shiny skin discoloration near the affected veins.
• Redness, dryness, and itchiness of areas of skin, termed stasis dermatitis or venous eczema, because of waste products building up in the leg.
• Cramps may develop, especially when making sudden movements or standing up.
• Minor injuries to the area may bleed more than normal or take a long time to heal.
• In some cases, the skin above the ankle may shrink (lipodermatosclerosis) because the fat underneath the skin becomes hard.
• Restless legs syndrome appears to be a common overlapping clinical syndrome in people with varicose veins and other chronic venous insufficiencies.
• Whitened, irregular scar-like patches can appear at the ankles. This is known as atrophie blanche.

Symptoms may increase after prolonged stasis. At the end of the day, it may feel worse. Some may feel burning in their legs. 

You can also get skin changes called pigmentation, which can look like bruises on the legs.

A less usual symptom – more common in the elderly – is thinner and more fragile skin, which more easily leads to injuries. Watch out for signs:

• eczema
• leg ulcers

Self-care in the form of walking, wearing support stockings and having the legs raised while resting, are good preventative measures. Other important measures include:

• weight loss in case of obesity
• stop smoking
• regular physical activity according to ability
• use of compression socks or stockings.

Varicose veins are harmless and usually symptom-free.
If you have eczema problems, treatment is needed to avoid inflammation of the skin and ulceration. Leg ulcers at the ankle joints and shin also require long-term treatment by healthcare professionals.

The doctor will perform a physical examination to see the extent of the varicose veins and to determine if there are any other circulatory or skin problems. It is important to distinguish whether the problem is linked to arteries or veins.

Varicose veins can be removed by a laser, radio wave treatment, injection with a type of foaming agent and surgery. Varicose veins that are medically painless are not treated. In case of cosmetic discomfort you need to contact a private healthcare provider yourself.

If your symptoms worsen despite self-care, you should contact your health care provider for advice. Skin changes, eczema, and ulceration are signs of a worsening condition.

You can contact us at APPOTEK for help with varicose veins. A nurse or physician makes an individual assessment based on your symptoms. You can then be referred for further care. In the case of varicose veins, a physical examination is required.