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The risks of varicose veins
Varicose veins are often dismissed as minor, but left untreated they can lead to skin damage, ulcers, rupture and dangerous clots. Here are the real risks.
- Varicose veins are not harmless; they raise the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
- Untreated, symptoms worsen: pain, cramps, heavy legs and swelling.
- They can damage the skin, from eczema to brown patches and ulcers.
- Weakened veins may rupture, and clots can cause phlebitis or embolism.
- Treating varicose veins early prevents most of these complications.
Often wrongly seen as a minor problem, varicose veins can cause a range of complications. Are they really dangerous? Here is what can happen when they are left untreated.
Venous thrombosis, or phlebitis, occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein. If not treated in time it can damage the vein and its valves, and go on to cause post-phlebitic disease or a pulmonary embolism. Tellingly, an English study found that the risk of deep vein thrombosis of the legs is 5.3 times higher when you have varicose veins.
#1 Symptoms get worse
Over time the number of varicose veins increases, so symptoms become more frequent and painful. Without prevention or treatment, pain, cramps, tingling and burning set in, along with heavy legs, swelling and edema.
#2 Skin problems
The more serious problems affect the skin:
- Varicose eczema: reddish to dark-brown skin lesions along the varicose veins, where the skin flakes and loses elasticity.
- Ochre dermatitis: a brown discolouration, usually on the inner leg, from venous blood stagnating in the ankles.
- Varicose ulcer: an open, oozing wound that fails to heal because of poor circulation, often on the front of the lower leg.
#3 Vein rupture
Varicose veins are dilated veins with a weakened wall, and complications can eventually make them rupture:
- Internal rupture: caused by a shearing effect, sometimes during physical effort.
- External rupture: triggered by a minor knock, which can bleed dramatically but is easily stopped by compression and raising the leg.
All varicose veins can rupture, but those in the legs are most at risk because they bear the most pressure and are exposed to knocks.
The good news is that most of these complications are avoidable by treating varicose veins before they worsen. Focused ultrasound (echotherapy) closes the faulty vein without any incision or injection, so you can act early without surgery.
#4 Phlebitis
Phlebitis, or clot formation, is the serious complication of varicose veins. There are two types:
- Superficial phlebitis (paraphlebitis): forms in surface vessels and rarely causes serious harm.
- Deep phlebitis: forms in the deep veins and can send a clot to the lungs, a pulmonary embolism.
What you should know
Venous insufficiency is common: the venous system struggles and blood accumulates in the legs. The signs are easy to spot, a recurring feeling of heavy legs, swollen calves or ankles, and the appearance of varicose veins. Left untreated it can lead to the skin and deep-vein complications above. Several measures help reduce the symptoms:
- A healthier lifestyle
- Wearing compression garments
- Food supplements
- Cooling gels
Wondering whether echotherapy is available near you? A growing network of centres is already equipped with the SONOVEIN.
Questions fréquentes
Are varicose veins dangerous?
At an early stage they are usually harmless, but untreated they can lead to serious complications: skin ulcers, vein rupture and phlebitis, and they raise the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Can varicose veins cause skin problems?
Yes. Over time they can cause varicose eczema, a brown discolouration known as ochre dermatitis and, in advanced cases, a varicose ulcer that is slow to heal.
Can a varicose vein burst?
A weakened varicose vein can rupture internally after strain or externally after a minor knock. External bleeding can look dramatic but is easily stopped by compression and raising the leg.
What is the link between varicose veins and phlebitis?
Phlebitis is a clot inside a vein. Superficial phlebitis is rarely serious, but deep vein phlebitis can send a clot to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.
How can I avoid these complications?
A healthier lifestyle, compression garments and supplements help, but treating the varicose vein itself, for example with echotherapy, is the way to prevent complications.