Symptoms of Varicose veins

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Because of the slow blood flow in the veins, there is a poor supply of oxygen to the surrounding tissues.

Varicose veins are veins that look swollen and stretched all the time. They are more noticeable when you stand up. They are most commonly found on the legs, usually around the back of the calf, but they can go up the leg to the groin.

Other symptoms include:

Twisted looking blue veins- some people call them spider veins;
Aching, heavy legs â€“ this is usually worse at night;
Ankle swelling;
Permanent brownish-blue shiny skin discoloration around the veins;
Skin over the vein may become dry, itchy and thin, leading to eczema (venous eczema)
The skin may darken (stasis dermatitis), because of the waste products building up in the legs;
Minor injuries to the area may bleed more than normal and/or take a long time to heal;
Rarely, there is a large amount of bleeding from a ruptured vein; and
In some people the skin above the ankle may shrink (lipodermatosclerosis) because the fat underneath the skin becomes hard.

Varicose veins stop the blood flowing properly. This can cause other conditions to develop such as build up of fluid in the legs, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and ulcers (an open sore that forms over the skin, particularly around the ankle).

Thrombophlebitis is a common problem related to varicose veins. It is like a blood clot and you may feel swelling and pain around the affected vein. Thrombophlebitis is usually treated with rest, painkillers and NSAIDS (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) but if it gets infected you may be prescribed antibiotics.