Vein Treatment Expert:
Vein Treatment Center

What Are Varicose Veins and How Are Varicose Veins Unhealthy?

If you experience bulging leg veins, aching and pain in the legs, heaviness, tiredness of the legs, itching and burning along bulging veins, restless legs or leg swelling, you may have symptomatic varicose veins that warrant evaluation and treatment.

Varicose veins can become enlarged and in some cases quite prominent. They can be seen in some individuals as serpiginous (snakelike), raised lumps in the thighs, legs, calves and ankles.

The first reference to the treatment of varicose veins is credited to Hippocrates in the 4th Century BC. He used a "slender piece of iron" to traumatize varicose veins and thereby cause clotting of the vein. Another description is of historical note with removal of a varicose vein in the Roman Consul member Caius Marcus by Plutarch - of note, no anesthesia was used and when the surgeon went to do the same operation on his other leg, he is noted to have said " I see the cure is not worth the pain". Things have changed a lot since that time and the procedures done today are done in the comfort of an office setting with little or no discomfort!

The major superficial veins in the lower extremities include the greater and lesser (short) saphenous veins. Other veins include the superior epigastric vein, superior external pudendal vein (groin area), posterior arch vein, anteriolateral branch of the greater saphenous vein, anterior tributary vein and dorsal venous arch. As well, the posteromedial vein, vein of Giacomini, intersaphenous vein and posterior lateral tributary veins. All of these veins and their branches can become varicose.

I often remind my patients that the only place in the lower extremities where a vein should be visible is near the inner ankle bone (medial ankle), where the skin is thin and almost everyone can see the saphenous vein cross it as it heads toward the upper body. This is seen in children and teenagers and is normal. However, any other veins that develop as we get older are ACQUIRED veins, that is they are not present when we were young but develop as we get older! As they become varicose, the overlying tissues can get inflamed and the skin can change color once blood seeps out of the veins and stains the fatty (subcutanous) tissue and skin. These hemosiderin depostis are responsible for the bronzing of the skin which is most likely at the most dependent part of the lower extremities, farthest away from the heart - the lower legs and ankles. (click here to read more)