Varicose veins are blue, twisted, swollen veins that bulge under your skin. They can happen anywhere in your body, but they’re most common in your legs.

Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but spider veins are thinner. They may look like a web of red, blue or purple lines, and they don’t bulge like varicose veins.

Varicose veins usually aren’t life-threatening. But over time, they can become painful and form ulcers (sores).

When the inner walls of your veins become weakened or the valves in your veins don’t work properly, varicose veins may develop.

Normally, with each pump of your heart the valves open for blood to flow toward your heart and close to keep it from flowing backward. But valves can become weak or damaged, allowing blood to pool in your veins. When this happens, the pressure of the pooled blood causes veins to bulge and twist.

Several factors that may raise your risk of varicose veins, including: 

At the UC Davis Vascular Center, we offer the latest noninvasive imaging techniques to diagnose varicose veins. You may need to get an ultrasound or magnetic resonance venography (MRV).

These tests provide an image of the blood flow through your veins. For MRV, you will get a shot of a special dye that makes your veins show up better in the image.

A diagnosis from our specialists is important because sometimes varicose veins can lead to more serious problems. If you have varicose veins, you may be at higher risk for developing blood clots and conditions such as:

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which happens when a clot forms in a deep vein of your leg.
• Pulmonary embolism, which develops when a clot travels to your lungs and blocks blood flow.
• Superficial thrombophlebitis, which happens when a clot blocks a vein that is near the surface of your skin.

Treatment depends on how severe your varicose veins are and how much discomfort they cause. Whenever possible, we prioritize minimally invasive therapies. We offer three treatments that are quick, do not require an overnight stay and have short recovery times.

You may not be able to prevent varicose veins, but there are things you can do to lower your risk:

• Exercise. Regular exercise keeps your blood moving.
• Move around. Take breaks from standing or sitting. Walk around to keep blood flowing.
• Lose weight if you need to. Extra weight puts more pressure on your veins.
• Put your feet up. When you’re sitting, put your feet up on a stool, or lay down instead of sitting.

Taking these steps also may reduce the chances of your varicose veins getting worse.

The specialists in our Vascular Center Vein Program provide education and support to lower your risk of developing more varicose veins. Your team will create a personalized plan that addresses your needs and concerns.