1. Spider and Varicose Veins Slideshow Pictures
2. How Much Is Psoriasis Affecting Your Life?
3. Take the Skin Quiz

Medical Author:

Shabir Bhimji, MD

Coauthor:

Amy Smookler, MD

Coauthor:

Mara Aloi, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Varicose veins are relatively easy to identify and can be a cosmetic nuisance for many people.

• They protrude or bulge from under the skin and feel ropey
• The legs often ache and feel heavy and itchy
• Symptoms can intensify after a long day of standing the feet
• A person may have severe pain upon standing or even have cramps in the legs at night.

Varicose veins can be more prominent or first appear during menstruation or pregnancy, and they may be more bothersome during these times.

Some people may have no symptoms at all. For most people, varicose veins are mainly a cosmetic problem.

Varicose veins are prone to developing superficial thrombophlebitis, which is a blood clot along with inflammation of a segment of vein.

• Blood clots in the superficial veins are easy to detect and troublesome but are usually harmless.
• A person may feel an area of tenderness and pain in the varicose vein, along with redness and swelling.
• The area may also feel hard or firm.
• Sometimes such areas can represent infection within the vein, so it is a good idea to visit a health care professional if a person develops any of these symptoms.
• This condition is not to be confused with a deep vein thrombophlebitis, which is a blood clot in a deep vein. Deep vein thrombophlebitis (DVT) is more serious because of the clot's potential to travel toward the heart and lodge in the lung (pulmonary embolism). This condition requires emergent admission to the hospital for treatment with blood thinning medications.

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Phlebitis Phlebitis is the inflammation of a vein. Superficial phlebitis affects the veins on the surface of the skin. Deep vein thrombophlebitis affects the larger veins...learn more >>

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