Varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins that usually occur on the legs and feet. They may be blue or dark purple, and are often lumpy, bulging or twisted in appearance.

Other symptoms include:

• aching, heavy and uncomfortable legs
• swollen feet and ankles
• burning or throbbing in your legs
• muscle cramp in your legs, particularly at night
• dry, itchy and thin skin over the affected vein

The symptoms are usually worse during warm weather or if you've been standing up for long periods of time. They may improve when you walk around or if you rest and raise your legs.

If you have varicose veins and they do not cause you any discomfort, you may not need to visit a GP.

Varicose veins are rarely a serious condition and do not usually require treatment.

But speak to a GP if:

• your varicose veins are causing you pain or discomfort
• the skin over your veins is sore and irritated
• the aching in your legs is causing irritation at night and disturbing your sleep

The GP can diagnose varicose veins based on these symptoms, although further tests may be carried out.

Read about diagnosing varicose veins.

Varicose veins develop when the small valves inside the veins stop working properly.

In a healthy vein, blood flows smoothly to the heart. The blood is prevented from flowing backwards by a series of tiny valves that open and close to let blood through.

If the valves weaken or are damaged, the blood can flow backwards and collect in the vein, eventually causing it to be swollen and enlarged (varicose).

Certain things can increase your chances of developing varicose veins, such as:

• being female
• having a close family member with varicose veins
• being older
• being overweight
• having a job that involves long periods of standing
• being pregnant
• other conditions

Read about the causes of varicose veins.

If treatment is necessary, your doctor may first recommend using compression stockings, taking regular exercise and elevating the affected area when resting.

If your varicose veins are still causing you pain or discomfort, or they cause complications, they can be treated in several ways.

The most common treatment options include:

• endothermal ablation – where heat is used to seal affected veins
• sclerotherapy – this uses special foam to close the veins
• ligation and stripping – the affected veins are surgically removed

It's unlikely you'll receive treatment on the NHS for cosmetic reasons – you'll have to pay for cosmetic treatment privately.

If you do feel you require treatment, it might help if you print out treatment options for varicose veins to discuss with the GP.

Read about:

Treating varicose veins 

Complications of varicose veins

There's little evidence to suggest you can stop varicose veins getting worse or completely stop new ones developing.

But there are ways to ease symptoms of existing varicose veins, such as:

• avoiding standing or sitting still for long periods and trying to move around every 30 minutes
• taking regular breaks throughout the day, raising the legs on pillows while resting to ease discomfort
• exercising regularly – this can improve circulation and help maintain a healthy weight

There are several types of varicose veins, such as:

• trunk varicose veins – these are near to the surface of the skin and are thick and knobbly; they're often long and can look unpleasant
• reticular varicose veins – these are red and sometimes grouped close together in a network
• telangiectasia varicose veins – also known as thread veins or spider veins, these are small clusters of blue or red veins that sometimes appear on your face or legs; they're harmless and, unlike trunk varicose veins, do not bulge underneath the surface of the skin