NHS Choices Condition
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Varicose veins are dark purple or blue in colour, and are usually twisted and bulging in appearance. Some people with varicose veins will not experience any pain or discomfort, while others are more severely affected.
Other symptoms of varicose veins can include:
- aching, heavy and uncomfortable legs,
- swollen feet and ankles,
- burning or throbbing in your legs,
- muscle cramp in your legs (particularly at night), and
- dry, itchy and thin skin over the affected vein.
If you have these symptoms, they will usually be worse in warm weather, or when you have been standing up for long periods of time.
Varicose veins often develop on the legs, usually on the back of your calf, or on the inside of your leg. However, they can sometimes form in other parts of your body, such as your:
- gullet (oesophagus),
- womb (uterus),
- vagina,
- pelvis, or
- rectum (back passage).
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