Varicose Veins Specialist
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Fox Valley Vein Centers
Venous and Lymphatic Medicine located in Sandwich, Yorkville, and Plainfield, IL
Roughly one out of every five adults have varicose veins. Fortunately, if you live in the Sandwich, Yorkville, or the Planfield, Illinois, areas and are looking for a solution to unsightly, enlarged veins, James Hawkins, DO, of Fox Valley Vein Centers offers safe and effective treatment options. Don’t live with varicose veins any longer than necessary; call the office today or request an appointment online today.
Varicose Veins Q&A
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged, bulging veins visible through the surface of your skin. They most often occur on your legs and feet due to the pressure of standing and walking.
Your veins work to carry blood back to your heart, where it can be recirculated. Veins are one-way roads that contain numerous tiny valves to prevent blood from flowing backward.
However, a number of factors can cause those valves to malfunction, allowing blood to pool in the affected veins. That pooling is what enlarges varicose veins, and the deoxygenated blood gives them their hallmark bluish color.
Aren’t varicose veins just a cosmetic concern?
Many people do seek treatment because they’re unhappy with the appearance of their varicose veins. Others, however, experience varicose vein complications that are painful or dangerous, including the following:
Ulcers
As blood pressure rises in varicose veins, it affects nearby tissues. That can cause ulcers to form, which can be extremely painful.
Bleeding
Because varicose veins are pressed against your skin, they are more vulnerable to bleeding, which increases your risk of infection.
Skin pigmentation
When your veins are not effectively moving blood back to your heart, your skin can suffer damage and begin to darken.
Venous eczema
If left untreated, varicose veins can cause eczema, a condition marked by itchy, red, flaky skin.
What are some symptoms of varicose veins?
Some people have no noticeable symptoms of varicose veins other than being able to see the swollen, bumpy blue or red veins through their skin. In other cases, symptoms include:
- A sensation of leg heaviness
- Itchy skin
- Skin that feels tight
- Calf muscle cramping
- Leg pain
If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s imperative to seek treatment right away:
- Significant leg swelling
- Open sores
- Vein redness or warmth
- Bleeding
- Skin rash
If you’re troubled by varicose veins and would like to explore treatment options, schedule an appointment with Dr. Hawkins and the team at Fox Valley Vein Centers today.