Vascular ruptures on the legs

Vascular ruptures are very thin blood vessels that are visible through the skin. They are called vascular ruptures precisely because they look like small blood vessels that have burst. Another common term for vascular ruptures is varicose veins, because the ruptured vessels often appear as webs on the skin. Vascular ruptures are never dangerous but some people may consider them a cosmetic problem.  

What are vascular ruptures?

Vascular tears are very thin veins that are visible through the skin and often appear in a net-like shape. They often have a bluish or purplish colour. This is because, as the ruptured vessels are veins, they are deoxygenated and therefore appear blue or purple in colour. The veins carry the deoxygenated blood to the heart to be oxygenated, while it is the arteries that carry the oxygenated blood back into the body.  

Vascular ruptures may be perceived as unsightly by many people because they are so clearly visible on the skin. However, it is important to remember that vascular ruptures are completely harmless and do not cause pain or other physical problems to the person who has them, but the cosmetic changes to the skin caused by vascular ruptures can still be a good enough reason to have them examined and possibly treated by a doctor.  

Vessel ruptures often appear first in the knee creases and up and down the leg from the knee crease, as well as on the face.  

Why do vascular ruptures occur?

The cause of a person's vascular rupture is often a combination of heredity and environment. If one or both parents have or have had vascular ruptures, the child will almost certainly also have vascular ruptures. However, there are a number of environmental factors that can determine when vascular rupture will occur and how extensive it will be.  

Some of the most important environmental factors are:  

• Age, with increasing age the vessels wear out and this means that the likelihood of a person having a predisposition to vascular rupture increases with increasing age
• Pregnancy is a major contributor to vascular rupture. Pregnancy causes an increase in the volume of blood in the body and this contributes to impaired blood circulation, which in turn increases the risk of blood accumulating in the superficial veins. In addition, the hormonal balance in the body changes during pregnancy and this weakens the walls of the veins, which increases the risk of vascular rupture. At the end of a pregnancy, the uterus may also press hard against the vessels surrounding it, which also increases the risk of ruptured vessels. After the pregnancy ends, it is very common for the ruptured vessels to disappear spontaneously, but this does not always happen.  
• Obesity, a person who is overweight has a larger body volume to oxygenate and this leads to a reduction in blood circulation, which increases the risk of ruptured vessels
• Inactivity, a person who is not moving has poorer blood circulation and this increases the risk of venous valves leaking, which in turn increases the risk of ruptured vessels
• Too much standing or sitting still again causes problems with blood circulation, which increases the risk of ruptured vessels
• If vascular rupture appears on the face, too much sun exposure may be the cause.

Can vascular rupture be prevented?

You cannot influence your genetic make-up, but you can influence the probability of your genetic make-up being important for your health. Thus, even if you have a genetic predisposition to develop a vascular rupture, you can prevent its occurrence and timing by making lifestyle choices that reduce your risk of developing a vascular rupture.  

These choices are the reverse of the factors mentioned above that influence the onset of vascular rupture. Thus, in order to prevent the development of vascular rupture, people should avoid being overweight, exercise regularly, avoid standing or sitting still, and also eat and drink healthily.  

Treatment methods for ruptured vessels

Although vascular ruptures are often visible on the outside of the skin, they are never dangerous. The reason why people seek treatment for vascular ruptures is that they are perceived as unsightly. However, a person who perceives the vascular ruptures on their body as unsightly may be emotionally reluctant to appear barefoot in public places and may also feel less attractive to their partner and both of these feelings are good reasons to treat the vascular ruptures as such treatment could increase the person's quality of life, which is central to medical and cosmetic treatments.  

The most commonly used treatment for vascular ruptures is so-called sclerotherapy. This method of treatment for ruptured vessels involves injecting medical foam or glue into the ruptured vessels. The foam or glue causes the blood in the vein to coagulate, thereby shrinking the damaged vein and removing the visible vessel rupture. Several consecutive treatments may be needed for the ruptured vessels to disappear completely.  

At UK Vein Care, sclerotherapy is performed under local anaesthesia and takes only a few hours to complete, after which the patient can return home and immediately resume normal activities.  

Summary - Vascular ruptures on the legs

• Vascular ruptures are small visible blood vessels, which are broken, visible through the skin and often resemble nets in shape
• Vessel ruptures usually appear first in the knee crease and then up or down the leg
• Vascular ruptures are hereditary; a person whose parents have or had vascular ruptures will have them themselves
• To reduce the extent of vascular ruptures and postpone the time in life when they occur, it is important to have a lifestyle that improves blood circulation. This includes avoiding excess weight and exercising regularly
• Pregnancy increases the risk of ruptured vessels, but ruptured vessels often disappear spontaneously after the pregnancy ends
• Ruptured vessels can be treated with sclerotherapy, which at UK Vein Care can be performed under local anaesthetic in just a few hours.  

3 quick questions about vascular ruptures on the legs

Why do blood vessels burst on the legs?

Ruptured blood vessels occur when the pressure in the veins increases, weakening the function of the valves. This is hereditary, and pregnancy, hormones, obesity and smoking also affect the incidence of ruptured vessels.

How to remove superficial blood vessels on the legs?

For the treatment of varicose veins on the legs, sclerotherapy is used. Using a thin needle, a drug is injected into the blood vessel and the blood vessel is closed. The blood vessel is broken down by the body and first a bruise appears which fades over 4-6 weeks.

Are ruptured blood vessels dangerous?

Ruptured blood vessels, or varicose veins, are not dangerous. They can be a cosmetic problem, which can be a major inconvenience.