What Causes Green Veins to Appear on the Skin?

If you see blue, purple, or green veins bulging beneath your skin, you’re probably wondering what caused them and how to get rid of them. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted blood vessels that are caused by excess pressure in the vein. Their color is determined by the skin’s undertones. People with warm undertones will have green or bluish-green veins, while people with cool undertones will have blue or purple veins. What are the main causes of varicose veins? Below, you’ll find a list of reasons for increased pressure in veins. Book an appointment with our Harvard-trained vein specialists to discuss your options for varicose veins treatment.

Risk Factors for Developing Varicose Veins:

• A Family History of Them: This is the main risk factor for varicose and spider veins.
• Gender: Females are more prone to varicosities.
• Hormones: Menopause, pregnancy, birth control usage, and HRT affect veins.
• Obesity: Excess weight puts more pressure on blood vessels.
• Sitting or Standing for Long Periods of Time: Blood pools in the legs.
• Sedentary Lifestyles: Muscle contractions from exercise help pump blood.
• Aging: Veins weaken with age, letting blood leak backward and accumulate.

What Type of Veins Become Varicose “Hurt Lines”?

The type of vein most likely to become varicose is one with weak walls or valves. Veins are lined with little valves that need to open and close at the right time to keep blood flowing toward the heart. If a valve breaks, or if vein walls stretch so much that valves can’t create a tight seal, blood flows in reverse through the vein. Blood accumulates and elevates pressure that generates twisted, swollen varicose veins. These protuberant veins are often painful, and they resemble ropes or curvy map lines, which is why some patients refer to them as “hurt lines.”

Do Varicose Veins and Heart Disease Have Similar Causes?

Varicose veins and heart disease don’t cause each other, but they have correlations. They’re both more likely in people with obesity, sedentary lifestyles, jobs that require long periods of sitting or standing, and people with a family history of them. The heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body via the arteries. Capillaries transfer blood to veins. Veins then pump blood back to the heart to collect more oxygen. Arterial disease, vein disease, and heart disease are three distinct issues. But many people have more than one of them. Research continues to find parallels between these diseases.

Are Twisted Veins Medical or Cosmetic Issues?

Some bulging, twisted veins require medical attention. For others, treatment is optional. And in some cases, they represent a medical emergency. It’s often impossible for patients to know the difference, simply by looking at them. Visit a vein doctor with ultrasound technology to determine whether your varicose veins require prompt treatment. Some symptoms require immediate attention. They could signify a blood clot, infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or uncontrolled bleeding that could become life-threatening. If you notice any of these red flag symptoms, head to the emergency room.

Signs That Varicose Veins Are a Medical Emergency:

• Profuse bleeding
• Sudden pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in a specific spot
• Chest pain, faintess, shortness of breath
• Venous ulcerations accompanied by a fever, puss, or red streaks

Should I See a Varicose Specialist for Veins in Legs?

If you have varicose veins in your legs, skip the dermatologists and cosmetic vein centers and book a varicose vein doctor. When varicosities form in the legs, they’re nearly always caused by valve failure in deeper veins. This is a common, underdiagnosed issued called Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Surface treatments don’t work for large varicose veins. The heat required to treat large veins through the skin would damage the skin.

In addition, surface treatments don’t correct underlying issues like broken valves, so more vein damage will develop. Surface treatments work for some veins, like spider veins on the face. These are often caused by things like sun damage or skin injury, not deep vein valve failure. But a surface laser treatment for varicose veins in the legs is a waste of time and money and could also damage your skin.

What Is a Varicose Vein Specialist Called?

Choose a vein doctor who’s board certified in a vascular field for all varicose veins and spider veins treatments. These doctors can treat both surface and deep veins, and they have the technology to treat the underlying issue too, so you don’t have a recurrence of varicose veins or spider veins. Look for a doctor who’s certified in vein medicine and vein imaging by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.

Or choose a doctor who’s certified in vascular surgery by the American Board of Medical Specialties, but only if the surgeon is also trained in minimally invasive vein treatments. Most veins no longer require surgery, so this is important to determine, if you want to avoid unnecessary surgery. 

What Doctor Does Varicose Veins Treatments Near Me?

The best vein doctors in New Jersey are Dr. Todd Kobrinski, Dr. Mitchell Karmel, and Dr. Andrew Cortes. They all hold multiple board certifications and have Harvard training. These vein experts offer the latest minimally invasive treatments, using tools like adhesives and radiofrequency energy to prevent surgery. We’ll conduct a thorough exam to determine whether your veins need lifestyle adjustments and compression stockings, or if they require treatment. Our doctors are expert educators who teach patients about preventing varicose veins as well.

Who’s the Best Doctor for Varicose Veins on Black Skin?

Patients with Brown or Black skin are sometimes concerned that vein treatment will discolor their skin. It’s true that traditional surface lasers had a tendency to lighten dark skin and darken light skin. But these aren’t the lasers we use for varicose vein treatment. Surface lasers are used for small spider veins on some parts of the body, like the face. But qualified vein doctors know not to use these for large varicose veins.

For large leg veins, our doctors insert a catheter into the vein and thread a laser fiber through it to heat the vein directly, rather than heating the vein through the skin. This protects the skin completely from discoloration. We also inject tumescent anesthesia around the vein prior to treatment to protect adjacent tissue from heat. Furthermore, endovenous lasers aren’t our first choice for thermal ablation.

We recommend radiofrequency energy over laser energy, because it closes veins with less heat. We also offer several non-thermal treatments like sclerotherapy, vein adhesives, and mechanochemical ablation. If you have Black or Brown skin, you can safely treat your veins at our centers with no fear of damaging your skin.

Which Venas Varicosas Doctor Near Me Se Habla Español?

Do you need a vein doctor near New Jersey who speaks Spanish? We can help. Several of our physicians speak Spanish, including Dr. Zalekha Shair, who works in our Long Island vein centers. Contact us to book an appointment with any of our New Jersey vein specialists, or with a Spanish-speaking doctor today! We look forward to working with you!