Varicose veins aren’t just a cosmetic concern. They can be a visible sign of changes happening inside your veins — and if your varicose veins look different than they used to, it’s important to take note.
Varicose veins that look larger, darker, or more twisted can leave you wondering if something more serious is going on. Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute offer varicose vein treatment, and understanding the common reasons varicose veins become more pronounced is the first step toward better comfort and long-term vein health.
Here are four possible reasons why your varicose veins might have started looking bigger and darker lately.
Healthy veins send blood from all corners of your body back to your heart. Varicose veins form when the small valves inside your leg veins weaken and blood starts to flow backward and pool instead of going back to your heart.
The backward flow and pooling increases pressure inside your veins and makes them stretch, bulge, and adopt a darker, more twisted appearance. Common causes of varicose veins include prolonged sitting or standing, obesity, pregnancy, and advancing age — and if you don’t address them early, they tend to become more pronounced with time.
Sometimes, you might notice that veins appear darker simply because they’re more visible as your skin starts to get thinner with age. Skin thinning is a natural process, and it happens because collagen and elastin production decrease and the supportive fat layer under your skin also diminishes with time.
Other factors like sun exposure and heat can make veins stand out more sharply, too, even if their internal structure hasn’t changed. Exercise or high blood pressure can also temporarily make your veins look more prominent.
Untreated varicose veins contribute to chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where the veins in your legs can’t effectively send blood back to your heart. The increased pressure and blood pooling that creates varicose veins in the first place can get more severe and cause more symptoms like inflammation and discoloration in your legs.
Along with inflammation, blood cells may start to break down, and this can cause changes in skin tone. You might notice darker patches of skin with brownish or rusty discoloration, particularly around your lower calves and ankles.
Other factors can have a significant impact on the look of your varicose veins, too. For example, pregnancy and hormonal shifts relax vein walls and elevate blood volume, amplifying a darker, swollen vein appearance.
Smoking damages vein walls and valves, increasing visible vein prominence. And even something as simple as wearing tight clothes or tight socks can make varicose veins look darker quickly.
If your veins are becoming more noticeable, and especially if they’re causing pain, itching, or other bothersome symptoms, treatment can help. Dr. Patel and our team start with a comprehensive exam and ultrasound mapping to assess vein function, and then we develop a personalized treatment plan.
Mild varicose veins may improve with simple lifestyle changes, like wearing graduated compression stockings to help improve blood flow, reduce swelling, and protect nearby tissues.
For more advanced varicose veins, minimally invasive procedures may be a good option. Treatments like radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser therapy, and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy close or collapse problematic veins with precision and minimal downtime.
Noticing changes in the appearance of your varicose veins doesn’t have to be cause for alarm. At NJ Cardiovascular Institute, we offer a full spectrum of treatments to help you manage symptoms, improve vein health, and restore comfort.
Schedule a consultation at one of our clinics in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, and Secaucus, New Jersey, to take the next step.
