The top complaint from most people who have varicose veins is the way they look. These twisted, bulging veins are close to the surface — just under your skin — and they can make you self-conscious about your legs’ appearance.
But at Hamptons Vein & Vascular in Rutherford and Westfield, New Jersey, our experienced vascular surgeon Rashmi Sharma, MD, RPVI, knows varicose veins aren’t just a cosmetic issue.
Many people with varicose veins report having symptoms beyond their unsightly appearance. These symptoms may indicate various health concerns, including:
- Swelling and pain
- Mobility problems
- Skin issues
- Difficulty sitting
- Blood clots
- Ulcers
- Bleeding issues
These health issues make having your varicose veins treated a priority. Our team has put together this guide explaining the many health benefits of varicose vein treatment.
Improves leg swelling and pain
When you have varicose veins, the poor circulation they cause means pressure builds within them. As a result, extra fluids can collect in the surrounding tissues and cause swelling.
At first swelling may be slight, with symptoms like a tight sensation in your skin or an impression on your skin after removing your socks or shoes.
Over time, the swelling increases and your legs may become very swollen. Your skin may change appearance or texture, or you may notice a yellow or clear fluid weeping from the area.
In addition, you may experience cramping or pain. Treating varicose veins helps alleviate these symptoms.
Decreases your risk of skin ulcers
As your skin stretches to accommodate the swelling caused by varicose veins, your skin changes and becomes less able to heal from injuries — including minor cuts and scrapes.
Swollen tissue limits the delivery of key nutrients and oxygen that aid in the healing process. When your skin can’t heal, the risk of skin ulcers increases. Treating your varicose veins can help prevent these types of skin ulcers from forming.
Reduces the risk of skin infections
The swelling caused by untreated varicose veins interferes with your skin’s natural defense against infections.
Every day, your skin comes in contact with many bacteria. Chronic leg swelling allows these bacteria to enter your body through the skin, causing a skin infection called cellulitis.
Symptoms include increased swelling, redness, and warmth. Treating varicose veins helps reduce your risk of developing these infections.
Decreases your risk of deep vein thrombosis
Some people with varicose veins develop thrombophlebitis, a condition that causes blood clots to form.
For about 25% of people who develop blood clots in their varicose veins, these clots develop in deeper veins, leading to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Symptoms of DVT include swelling, redness, warmth to the touch, and pain or cramping.
DVT is a serious medical condition that can lead to the development of a pulmonary embolism. Treating your varicose veins reduces this risk.
Reduces bleeding issues
When you have varicose veins, there’s more than the normal amount of blood in the vein. This blood pools just below the surface of your skin.
This means that if the vein is injured or cut, a significant amount of bleeding can result — more than you may expect to see with a relatively small injury.
Even if the skin doesn’t break but the vein is damaged, you may notice distinct bruising that indicates bleeding below the surface of the skin. It can also take longer than normal for bleeding to stop when a varicose vein is involved. Treating these problematic veins decreases your risk of having any bleeding issues.
We offer treatments like sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation to help make your varicose veins disappear. To learn more about the health benefits of treating your varicose veins or determine which treatment is best for you, contact us to schedule an appointment today.