What are Varicose and Spider Veins?
Normal healthy veins return blood from the feet back up towards the heart against the force of gravity with the help of normal one-way valves that normally allow upward flow of blood. This upward flow of blood is assisted by the pumping action of leg muscles.
Varicose veins are abnormal, swollen, tortuous veins that protrude from the surface of the skin in varying sizes. They are the result of faulty vein valves or weak vein walls that allow blood to flow back toward the feet.
Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are blue, red, or purplish capillary veins less than 2 mm in diameter that are clearly visible on the surface of the skin.
