Dealing With Unsightly Veins

Discovering any prominent veins on the skin’s surface can be troubling anyway, but the problem is exacerbated in a hot climate like Singapore where covering up your legs every day isn’t a practical option. Wh begs the question: how should we approach these unsightly visitor be they the thin and thread-like variety, or – worse still – the prominent and painful sort? We gathered insights from three specialists.

Varicose Veins : The Facts

Often appearing as twisted or swollen blood vessels that bulge from the skin’s surface, varicose aren’t just a cosmetic problem; they can also be early signs of a longer-term health risk, such as vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots.

#1 Varicose and spider veins can be related.

“We see some patients who first start to develop spider veins – which appear as small, purple, thread like veins – at an earlier age, from late teens to adulthood. Sometimes, this can be a warning sign varicose veins developing later in life, so it should be looked at,” says DR CHENG SHIN CHEUN from Pacific Vein and Endovascular Centre.

#2 Varicose veins are often inherited

According to research, you can inherit tendencies towards both varicose and spider veins. “We do tend to observe the problem in our patients’ parents, and often their siblings too. That said, don’t be too quick to blame your folks – it can also skip a generation says Dr Cheng.

#3 They can form due to pregnancy. 

This is due to the extra pressure that the expanding womb places on the main veins in the pelvic area, which compromises the upward flow of blood from the legs. “It’s an all-too-common story that varicose veins worsen during pregnancy, or even appear for the first time,” says Dr Cheng.

#4 They tend to be more prevalent in women. 

The female hormone oestrogen seems to weaken vein walls, meaning prominent veins tend to be more common in women than in men.

VARICOSE VEINS: The Treatment