Pain and
soreness of
legs
Cramping or
throbbing in
the legs
Itchy legs,
sometimes at the
ankles and feet
Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins, and are most likely to form in the legs.1
Veins have one-way valves that help blood flow toward the heart. When these veins are damaged or become weak, they cause the blood to flow backwards and pool in them. This causes veins to swell up and can lead to varicose veins.1
Enlarged veins just
under the surface of
the skin
Dull, achy, feeling of heaviness in the legs
Colour changes in
the skin around
the affected area
Mild swelling
of ankles
and feet
Pain and
soreness of
legs
Cramping or
throbbing in
the legs
Itchy legs,
sometimes at the
ankles and feet
In severe cases, varicose veins can even lead to prolonged swelling in the legs and eventually result in more serious skin and tissue problems, such as non-healing sores and ulcers.
In severe cases, varicose veins can even lead to prolonged swelling in the legs and eventually result in more serious skin and tissue problems, such as non-healing sores and ulcers.

Also called “spider veins” or “thread veins”—small, superficial veins.

Clearly visible, dilated, tortuous veins ≥3 mm in diameter.

Persistent swelling of the lower legs/ankles due to venous insufficiency.

(darkened skin, red/brown patches, or itchy/rashy skin)

(hardening/thickening of skin/fat) or white atrophy (white, scar-like skin patches)

Skin ulcer due to venous disease that has healed.

Open, non-healing ulcer due to severe chronic venous insufficiency.
Varicose veins affect BOTH men and women. Following are the risk factors for developing Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI – damage and weakening of veins cause the blood to flow backwards and pooling)1,2