Varicose veins

Varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins which are usually a blue or dark purple. They may also be lumpy, bulging or twisted in appearance.

Varicose veins develop when the small valves inside the veins stop working properly. In a healthy vein, blood flows smoothly to the heart, and is prevented from flowing backwards by a series of tiny valves, which open and close to let blood through. If these valves weaken or are damaged, the blood can flow backwards and can collect in the vein, eventually causing it to be varicose.

Varicose veins are common

Varicose veins are a very common condition. Women tend to be more affected than men, with approximately 30% of women developing varicose veins in their lifetime, compared to 15% of men.

Any vein in your body can become varicose (swollen and enlarged), but they most commonly develop in the legs and feet. The calves are most commonly affected. This is because standing and walking puts extra pressure on the veins in the lower body.

In this section

Varicose veins are not usually serious

For most people varicose veins do not present serious health problems. They may appear unsightly, but they should not affect your circulation or cause any long-term health problems. Varicose veins rarely cause complications. Most will not require any treatment.

For some people varicose veins can cause aching, swollen and painful legs. In rare cases, they can also cause complications, such as skin discolouration and leg ulcers. If your varicose veins are causing you significant discomfort, or you have developed complications, you are more likely to require treatment.

Illustration of varicose veins

1. Varicose valve showing blood flowing both ways
2. Healthy valve showing blood flowing one way
3. Varicose veins on skin surface

Types of varicose veins

Trunk varicose veins are near to the surface of the skin and are thick and knobbly. They are usually visible, often quite long and can be unsightly.
Reticular varicose veins are red and sometimes grouped close together in a network.
Telangiectasia varicose veins, also known as ‘thread’ or ‘spider’ veins, are small clusters of blue or red veins that sometimes appear on your face or legs. They are harmless and, unlike trunk varicose veins, they do not bulge underneath the surface of the skin.

Reproduced under the terms of Click-Use Licence number C2009000382. The content of this page has been published under a Click-Use Licence which covers the use of core Crown copyright information and In this instance. The original material can be found on NHS Choices.