Varicose veins on the feet

Varicose veins on the feet are relatively common and can affect up to thirty per cent of the population. The development of varicose veins on the feet is usually linked to heredity; a person whose parents have varicose veins on their feet is at very high risk of developing varicose veins on their own feet, and on other parts of the body - especially the lower legs.

Although varicose veins on the feet are mainly hereditary, there are a number of lifestyle-related behaviours that can mitigate or delay the onset of varicose veins on the feet. These behaviours are mainly linked to improving blood circulation in the body, which is done by being physically active, avoiding standing and sitting still and trying to maintain a normal weight.

For those who already have varicose veins on their feet, there are good opportunities for treatment. This treatment starts with a preliminary examination of the varicose veins by a vascular surgeon.

What are varicose veins on the feet?

Varicose veins on the feet are swollen veins that are so superficial on the feet that they can be both seen and felt on the surface of the skin. Varicose veins on the feet are bluish or purplish in colour because the blood in the superficial and swollen veins is deoxygenated as it travels to the heart to be re-oxygenated. It is deficiencies in the actual pumping to the heart that cause varicose veins on the feet.

If the valves in the veins that regulate the flow of blood as it is pumped to the heart are defective and cannot hold tight, some of the blood will flow back into the veins where it will accumulate in pools. It is these pools that will cause the varicose veins on the feet. Varicose veins are more common in the lower part of the body compared to other parts of the body because gravity makes the work of pumping the blood towards the heart more demanding there.

What are the symptoms of a person with varicose veins on their feet?

There are a number of symptoms common to varicose veins on the feet. In addition to the visible symptoms, such as swollen veins that look blue or purple in colour, a person with varicose veins on the feet may experience a feeling of heaviness and mild pain. Varicose veins on the feet can also cause dark, itchy spots that can develop over time into permanent ulcers that do not heal easily.

These symptoms often develop slowly over time, so the person with varicose veins gets used to them. Therefore, during treatment, the patient may feel a great and unexpected relief in getting rid of the varicose veins.

Varicose veins on the feet are not visible

As it is not common to go barefoot, varicose veins on the legs will rarely be visible. This means that the cosmetic reasons for treating varicose veins that are so common in leg varicose veins are rarely present in leg varicose veins.

However, the fact that varicose veins on the feet are not often visible does not mean that they do not cause discomfort and can impair the quality of life of those who have them. Varicose veins on the feet cause the same mild pain as varicose veins on other parts of the body, and the permanent, itchy sores also appear on the feet as the varicose veins worsen over time.

It can be difficult to find shoes that fit if you have varicose veins on your feet

One of the practical difficulties of having varicose veins on your feet is that because varicose veins cause veins to swell, it can be difficult to wear the shoes you have. It can also be difficult to find new shoes that fit because shoes are often produced for a ‘normal foot’ that keeps certain dimensions related to length and height. As varicose veins on the feet get worse, the veins on the feet will also swell even more, which again makes the shoes you have no longer fit. It can therefore be said that the problem of wearing shoes and finding new shoes becomes constant for a person with varicose veins on their feet. This is another good reason to have the varicose veins on your feet examined to find good treatment methods to remove them.

Treating varicose veins on the feet is a good idea because they often come along with varicose veins on the legs

There are a number of modern treatments for varicose veins in the feet that are both gentle, can be performed very quickly and require minimal recovery time.

The most common treatments are laser, glue, foam or a so-called phlebectomy. The laser, glue or foam treatments all involve sealing the veins containing the varicose veins in the feet to prevent blood flow in them. This is done by inserting a very small catheter through the skin near the varicose veins. At the end of the catheter is a small tool that performs the closure. This causes the veins to narrow and the varicose veins to disappear. In a phlebectomy, a very small incision is made at the side of the varicose veins in the legs. A very small tool, which looks like a fishing hook, is then inserted through the incision and used to pull out the veins with varicose veins in them.

The treatments described above can all be carried out under local anaesthetic and take about an hour to complete. The treatments can be performed in a clinic outside a hospital, so the patient does not need to be hospitalised and can go home the same day as the treatment. After a day or two of convalescence, the patient can return to their normal activities.