What Are Those Bulging, Twisted, Hurt Lines on Your Legs?
What are varicose veins, and what causes them? Some patients call their varicose veins “hurt lines,” because they’re painful, raised lines of blood vessels. They often appear on the legs, and they have a twisted, rope-like appearance that differs from the healthy veins around them. These veins are engorged with blood, so they swell and protrude, causing the skin’s surface level to rise. Increased pressure in the veins is what causes them to contort. Book an appointment with our New Jersey vein specialists for quick relief from your “hurt lines.” Read on to learn why they develop.
What Causes Green Veins to Appear on the Skin and Protrude?
Varicose veins can look purple, blue, or green depending on your skin’s undertones. While the color may seem alarming, the blood in the veins is still red. When you view blood through skin and veins, the red frequencies are absorbed more than the blue and green waves, so your eye perceives veins as those colors.
The problem with varicose veins isn’t their color, it’s that they indicate a malfunction in your veins. Veins are lined with little valves that open and close to keep blood moving toward the heart. If a valve weakens, or the walls of the veins stretch, the valve doesn’t close tightly. Blood flows in reverse and accumulates beneath the valve. The result is a swollen, tortuous varicose vein.
This same malfunction also causes spider veins. When blood vessels incur excessive pressure, spider veins branch out to contain the extra blood. They’re like dead ends for the circulatory system, and they can be symptomatic like varicose veins. Our vein specialists treat varicose veins and spider veins within minutes with minimally invasive vein treatments.
Varicose veins are common in adults, especially women. But there are certain things that increase your risk of developing varicose veins, including a family history of varicose veins. That’s the top predictor. The other factors include obesity, gender, sedentary jobs, aging, and hormone fluctuations that occur with pregnancy, menopause, hormone replacement, and birth control usage.
Are Swollen, Twisted Veins Medical Emergencies?
Varicose veins aren’t always problematic. But many produce unpleasant symptoms like leg pain, cramping, heaviness, restlessness, and swelling. Some progress to involve complications like venous ulcerations, venous stasis dermatitis, and hyperpigmentation. And in rare cases, varicose veins are medical emergencies
If you have uncontrolled bleeding from a varicose vein, go to the emergency room.
If you experience sudden redness, warmth, and swelling, seek urgent care to rule out a blood clot. A clot in a deep vein, called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), can break loose and obstruct the lungs. This can cause a fatal pulmonary embolism. Varicose veins don’t cause DVTs. However, varicose veins can result from them. So, if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or faintness, call 911.
Do Blood Thinners Help Varicose Veins?
Blood thinners don’t help varicose veins caused by valve failure. They could actually exacerbate the issue since thinner blood can leak backward more easily through weak valves. Blood thinners are dangerous for people with protuberant varicose veins since they can cause profuse bleeding if the vein is nicked. In some cases, blood thinners help treat blood clots. But that requires a vein doctor’s expertise. Depending on the clot’s location, thinning the blood could cause a pulmonary embolism.
Do You Need a Varicose Specialist to Treat Varicose Veins?
Some varicose veins don’t become problematic. But most cause some degree of discomfort. And they’re debilitating for many people. There are things you can try at home to manage symptoms, like elevating your legs while you rest, and avoiding long periods of sitting or standing. It helps to maintain a healthy weight and exercise daily. But to remove varicose veins completely, and treat underlying valve issues, you need a varicose vein specialist. You don’t need to start with a surgeon. Most veins no longer require surgery with the introduction of minimally invasive vein treatments like sclerotherapy.
What Is a Varicose Vein Specialist Called?
“Specialist” isn’t a regulated word like “doctor” is, which can be confusing, because some doctors do specialize in veins. But doctors aren’t required to specialize in veins to offer certain vein treatments. So, always inquire about a specialist’s training before treatment. Look for a doctor who studied vein medicine or vascular surgery. Choose a board certified doctor who earned their medical degree and completed training in a vascular specialty. If you choose a vascular surgeon, ensure that they’re also trained in minimally invasive alternatives.
What Treatments Does a Specialist for Veins in Legs Provide?
In 2023, vein doctors have several options for treating varicose veins. It’s important to choose a vein doctor, not a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon who lacks the technology to find and treat the cause of varicose veins. If you neglect the cause, more varicose veins and spider veins can develop. Here are some state-of-the-art solutions our vein doctors use, that take just 15 to 30 minutes to complete.
- Sclerotherapy
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Mechanochemical Ablation
- Vein Adhesives
- Endovenous Laser Ablation
Do Varicose Veins on Black Skin Need Different Treatment?
Another reason to choose a vein doctor over a cosmetic vein center is that some topical laser treatments can discolor the skin. They can cause hypopigmentation on Black or Brown skin, and hyperpigmentation on White skin. Cosmetic and dermatological centers only offer these surface laser treatments, whereas vein doctors use endovenous lasers that heat the vein, not the skin above it. In addition, vein doctors can use radiofrequency instead of lasers, and they can also use several non-thermal methods like sclerotherapy and vein adhesives.
How Long Does Sclerotherapy Last?
Sclerotherapy with a qualified vein doctor is permanent. These physicians identify and treat the cause of varicose veins, not just the surface damage. If you see a cosmetic vein specialist instead, they can’t treat the malfunction in deeper veins, so vein damage might recur. But once a vein is successfully closed, and the broken valve is eliminated, the varicose vein won’t reopen. Some veins require more than one session, depending on their size and severity. But once they’re sealed off, they’re gone for good.
What Doctor Does Varicose Veins Treatment in New Jersey?
If you need varicose vein treatment in New Jersey, visit our Scotch Plains, Woodbridge, Woodland Park, Paramus, or Clifton vein centers. Each of our vein doctors are Harvard-trained, board certified, minimally invasive vein specialists. Book a consultation with Dr. Mitchell Karmel, Dr. Todd Kobrinski, or Dr. Andrew Cortes today!
Can 1800 Varicose Veins Recommend a Leg Vein Clinic Near Me?
If you’ve seen advertisements for 1800 Varicose, or 1-800-Varicose, please note that this is a marketing company for vein specialists to promote their services. It does not verify the quality of the vein specialist. Instead, research the vein doctor before booking an appointment. Look at where they studied, which degrees they hold, what they specialized in, and whether they’re board certified. If you want a qualified vein doctor in New Jersey, call our award-winning vein specialists at (973) 447-8475. We look forward to treating your varicose veins!