What Happens if You Don’t Treat Your Varicose Veins?

Visible veins are just a normal part of aging, right? While you may be unhappy with the way they look, do you really need to have them treated?

It’s true that visible veins, including varicose veins, are common as you age, but they aren’t always just a cosmetic concern. Ignoring these veins for long can lead to several potential issues that could affect your comfort and health.

A Closer Look at Varicose Veins

Your veins push blood from your feet and legs all the way back up to your heart, working against gravity the whole way. Your heartbeat isn’t strong enough to pump blood from your chest, through your arteries, then back while fighting gravity without a little structural help. For that, veins rely on a series of one-way valves that open to let blood flow up, then shut to keep it from flowing back down.

Over time, some valves can become weak or damaged, and they can fail to close effectively (this is known as venous insufficiency). As a result, blood can pool in the space behind a weak valve. As more and more blood pools, the pressure stretches the vein walls, which causes the vein to bulge and twist.

When you leave venous insufficiency untreated, the pressure in your vein continues to build. As time goes on, it has the potential to cause symptoms that can significantly impact your daily life.

Potential Varicose Vein Complications

Let’s take a closer look at some of the long-term vein symptoms that could happen if you don’t treat your varicose veins. Some of these concerns are mild, but in some cases, untreated varicose veins can lead to serious medical complications that require urgent attention.

Pain and Itching

One of the first symptoms patients report is a heavy, uncomfortable feeling in their legs. Eventually, you may experience more discomfort, including throbbing aches or sharp cramping, especially at night, which can negatively impact sleep.

What’s more, many people report an intense itch in the area around the vein, a result of the inflammatory response of the body to a struggling vein.

Changes to Skin

If seeing your visible veins isn’t bad enough, over time, the chronic swelling and poor circulation can cause other unwanted changes in the lower legs and ankles.

• Hyperpigmentation: Blood can leak into the skin near the vein. As the blood cells break down, they leave behind iron that stains your skin a rusty color.
• Scaling: Irritated skin near the vein often becomes dry, flaky, and intensely itchy; a condition known as venous eczema.
• Skin Thickening: As inflammation continues, the skin and the fat underneath it can harden. Your skin might start to feel tough and leathery, losing its natural elasticity.

Skin Ulcers

The skin on your lower legs can become incredibly fragile from poor circulation and chronic swelling. Because the blood flow in that area is so poor, even small scratches can struggle to heal. In some cases, even mild wounds can devolve into painful, open sores. These ulcers are highly prone to infection and can take months to fully heal.

Bleeding

As the skin over a varicose vein thins out over time, the vein becomes increasingly vulnerable. A small bump that would typically cause a slight bruise could result in bleeding from the vein, which is rare cases may be significant and require medical help.

Increased Risk of Blood Clots

Pooling blood is a risk factor for blood clots. People with untreated varicose veins face a higher risk of developing two types of clotting issues:

• Superficial Thrombophlebitis: This is a blood clot that forms in a vein just under the skin. It causes the vein to become hard, red, warm, and painful.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): While less common, pooling blood can sometimes contribute to a clot in the deeper veins of your leg. DVT is a serious medical emergency, as the clot can break loose and travel to your lungs.

Next Steps for Healthier Legs

There are several advanced treatment options for visible veins, and they may even be covered by your insurance. Reach out to schedule your confrontation before your vein symptoms escalate.