Varicose veins and spider veins are twisted or enlarged veins that form due to poor blood circulation and clots in the vein. While they may look concerning at times, they are often a cosmetic issue rather than a medical one. However, there are rare occurrences wherein they may cause pain, discomfort or indicate an underlying condition.
So when should you go see your doctor about your varicose veins? You should seek out professional advice regarding your varicose veins if you want to either remove them for cosmetic purposes, or if they begin to cause you pain and discomfort. Otherwise, you can generally go through your day to day activities without giving your varicose or spider veins much thought.
Learn More: Reticular Veins vs. Varicose Veins: What Are The Differences
When Should You See Your Doctor About Varicose Veins?
You can see a doctor regarding your varicose veins at any time if your concerns are for vanity or appearances sake, however, it may not be necessary. On the other hand, if your varicose veins and the area around it begin to cause pain, weakness, swelling, open wounds, or cramps you should see your doctor as soon as possible as this may be a concern to your health. Here are some possible reasons as to why you should see your doctor:
1) Seeing Your Doctor Due to Cosmetic Reasons
Varicose veins and spider veins affect almost 23% of the adult population alone and are common conditions when aging. However, they can be a point of insecurity when it comes to one’s appearance. They may not be causing physical pain or discomfort but with purple and blue veins visible on prominent areas of your skin, many people seek treatment options to have them removed.
If you’re suffering from varicose vein issues, you can see your doctor at your earliest convenience so that they can give you options for a cosmetic treatment that will target your varicose veins.
There are quite a number of minimally invasive and surgical treatments that can address your cosmetic concerns with varying downtimes. If your varicose and spider veins are fully formed there’s a good chance you will need a medical procedure to eliminate them.
However, if they’re barely formed or seemingly temporary your doctor may suggest a lifestyle change or compression socks to help keep the formation progression at bay and prevent varicose veins from forming.
2) Possible Underlying Health Issue Concerns
Aside from cosmetic concerns, people do sometimes worry about varicose veins and their relation to their health. While uncommon for varicose veins to be a health concern, if you are experiencing any of these severe symptoms due to your varicose veins, you may want to consider contacting your doctor to address any health risks or concerns:
a. Having Constant Pain Around Your Veins
More often than not, varicose veins appear on people’s legs due to the constant pressure they are on. With the extra pressure on your legs, your leg veins may be more susceptible to blood clots and blood pooling resulting in the formation of varicose and spider veins.
While this is normal, there have been cases within people who have reported moderate to severe pain in their legs due to varicose veins. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s possible that you have a deep vein clot or a more serious vein condition than just varicose veins.
As much as it could be a number of different vein issues, the most likely diagnosis is thrombophlebitis. Having thrombophlebitis means that clots are forming in your saphenous and deeper veins causing inflammation to your leg muscles and making them feel sore and painful. If this is the case, you should contact your doctor for a checkup to diagnose you and learn how to control your condition.
b. Burning Sensations
If your varicose veins are causing a burning sensation to occur on your skin, it’s possible that your veins are leaking fluid outside of your blood vessels. When you experience a venous insufficiency like varicose veins, your vein walls likely aren’t as strong and can be easily damaged causing further problems.
While veins can burst from time to time without causing too much worry, you should go to your vein expert to treat the veins, especially if the area is reacting negatively by heating up. If your veins are leaking consistently, you may have a condition called phlebitis which in severe cases can cause an infection down the road.
c. Unusual Swelling Around Veins
Varicose and spider vein swelling are common characteristics but when they cause your legs, ankles, or feet to swell as well, it may be time to see a healthcare provider. If you have observed that the area around your varicose veins is constantly inflamed, you may have an underlying venous or lymphatic condition causing it to swell.
To differentiate normal swelling from concerning inflammation, you’ll need to observe the inflammation pattern of the area. If swelling only occurs only in one leg or after physical activity, it can be a key indicator of a more serious venous condition.
d. Formation of Ulcers
If your varicose veins are forming leg ulcers or any skin ulcers in general, you should see your doctor to prevent the risk of infections. When your varicose veins hinder blood circulation in any part of your body, extra blood will pool in different places causing an excess of pressure.
If that pressure becomes too much it will break through the skin and create an open wound. Rarely does this happen but they’re a cause of alarm as you want to prevent any further ulcers from forming in the future if possible.
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Medical Treatments To Treat Your Varicose Veins
If you decide to get medical advice regarding your varicose veins, whether it be for cosmetic or health reasons, your doctor should be able to give you different treatment options to address your main concerns.
For both cosmetic and health reasons, laser therapy and vein injections may be the more popular treatment procedure as they’re both considered to be minimally invasive procedures and have shorter downtimes compared to surgical treatments. Your doctor should also tell you whether you must go for a medical procedure or a much more conservative alternative.
On the other hand, if your vein concerns are due to larger veins in your legs malfunctioning and clothing you may want to consider vein surgeries like vein stripping to effectively treat your varicose veins. Overall, if you’re bothered by the purple and blue veins on your skin for whatever reason, you should go to your doctor and have them treated.
The Best Vein Treatments at Vein Center Doctor
Whether it be for cosmetic or health reasons, no one likes having varicose veins. In most cases, people who seek vein treatments do so for self-confidence, but there are cases wherein varicose veins become a hindrance to daily activities and physical comfort. Whatever varying reasons people may have, it’s good to seek vein treatments from trusted professionals. Here at The Vein Doctor, our team of experts can diagnose and treat any vein concern you may have. From cosmetic laser vein treatments to vein injections to severe leg pain, we offer safe and effective solutions for all vein-related issues. Call us today to know more about services or book an appointment online.
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