What Are the Symptoms of Varicose Veins?
Symptoms of varicose veins include:
- Prominent dark purple or blue blood vessels, visible on the thigh and calf
- Aching, tender, heavy, or sore legs, often accompanied by swelling in the ankles or feet after standing for a prolonged length of time
Call Your Doctor About Varicose Veins If:
- Symptoms becomes incapacitating, or the skin over your varicose veins becomes flaky, ulcerated, discolored, or prone to bleeding -- you could be developing stasis dermatitis. If left untreated, stasis dermatitis can lead to skin infections and chronic leg ulcers.
- You have red, warm, and tender varicose veins. This may be a sign of phlebitis, which is caused by a blood clot in the vein.
- You have injured a varicose vein. Control the resulting burst of blood with direct compression and leg elevation. Have your veins evaluated by a vein specialist as this can be a potentially serious complication.
Seek emergency medical help for any excessive bleeding or bleeding that does not stop.