What Is It?
Varicose veins result from a chronic dilatation of the veins, a condition called "varicosity." Instead of flowing from one valve to the next, the blood begins to pool in the vein, increasing venous pressure and causing the vein to bulge and twist.

Your body has two types of blood vessels: arteries carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich red blood from your heart to your muscles and organs, while veins return the "used" bluish blood back to your heart. The deep veins located beneath the muscles carry about 90 percent of the blood traveling from your legs back to your chest. The other 10 percent flows through veins located closer to the surface, often visible, and less well supported.

While your leg muscles help your veins pump the blood upward, the real workhorse is an intricate system of one-way valves that prevent the blood from draining back down the leg under the force of gravity. In many people, women in particular, these valves stop working as well as they should, putting additional pressure on the wall of the vein. Varicose veins results from a chronic dilatation of the veins, a condition called "varicosity." When the vein walls are pushed apart, the valves no longer seal properly, making it difficult for the muscles to push the blood upward. Instead of flowing from one valve to the next, the blood begins to pool in the vein, increasing venous pressure and causing the vein to bulge and twist. The result is varicose veins. In some people, varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern. In others, the condition leads to pain and more serious problems. And in some cases, varicose veins can signal a higher risk for other conditions involving the circulatory system. When inflamed or clotted, they become hard and tender to the touch. Increasing pressure may cause itchy skin and aching in the affected limb.

If you suffer from varicose veins, you are not alone. According to the American College of Phlebology, more than 80 million Americans have varicose veins or a related venous disorder. Spider veins, also referred to as telangiectasia or broken capillaries, are formed by the dilation of a small group of blood vessels located close to the surface of the skin and are most commonly found on the legs and face. They look like red or purple sunbursts or branched or web patterns and only rarely cause pain. Varicose veins differ from spider veins in that they are:

larger—usually more than a quarter inch in diameter—and often distended
darker purple or blue
located deeper than spider veins
tend to bulge or twist
may be painful
can be related to more serious vein disorders

Varicose veins aren't just a cosmetic concern. They can also pose a health risk. Sometimes they are associated with:

spontaneous bleeding, which occurs as the skin over the varicose veins becomes t...

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