The varicose veins are abnormally  lengthened  swollen veins   that stick out from the surface of the skin. Generally found in the lower limbs due to  the presence of defective  and incontinent  valves,  and  to a weakness of the venous walls.

The correct medical term is teleangiectasias.  They are small  dilated veins (capillaries)  with a diameter less than 2 mm that lie just under the   skin  surface  of the legs: they can be red or blue

The problems of varicose veins in the legs begin when the valves become weak and work badly   and  allow  the blood to flow downwards  to  the wrong direction. This causes an overload of blood and a consequent dilatation of the vein that becomes tortuous and protruding from the skin. The increase in venous pressure due to the overload  leads in time to the malfunction of  the   valves of the  near veins   so  that the process  generates  the development of other varicose veins

In addiction  to  an aesthetic  factor the varicose veins cause  some  inconveniences  such as :

• Swelling
• heaviness
• achiness
• cramps

The varicose disease has a progressive course from the swelling of the ankles, pigmentation, ulceration up to the chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in its various stages. It will be important to start early a  medical treatment in order to stop this natural progression of the disease, reduce symptoms and improve the aesthetic appearance

Although   we  do not know very well the main causes of varicose veins there are  many  factors that can contribute to increase the probability of occurrence of the disease. The main factor is the genetic predisposition .  The other  factors  are :

• PREGNANCY
• BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
• HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
• LACK OF  PHYSICAL EXERCISE
• LONG STAY SITTING OR STANDING
• OBESITY
• CONSTIPATION