Itchy Varicose Veins: Why Do They Itch & How To Treat Them

1. Itchy Varicose Veins: Why Do They Itch & How To Treat Them

2. Why Do Varicose Veins Itch?  We hear this question a lot. Unfortunately, itchiness is a common symptom of varicose veins. If you’ve been diagnosed with vein disease, you may constantly be scratching at your legs, ankles, and feet. This can be a frustrating experience –– not to mention uncomfortable and sometimes even painful.  Some affected individuals mistake this itchiness as a skin-based issue. They attempt to treat varicose vein itching with lotions and moisturizers instead of addressing the problem at its source. To make things potentially worse, if left untreated, itchy varicose veins can eventually develop into more dangerous venous ulcers. 

3. What is Vein Disease? Vein disease, also known as venous insufficiency, is a common ailment that affects millions of people in the United States. Basically, malfunctioning veins cause blood to pool in your legs, ankles, and feet.  • You may experience a variety of painful and uncomfortable symptoms, including: • Swelling in your legs and ankles • Cramps or achiness in the thigh or calf • Tired or heavy legs • Restlessness, especially at night • Itchy, dry, or hardened skin on your legs • Wounds on your legs or ankles that take a long time to heal or don’t heal at all • Leg pain that goes away when you walk or elevate your legs

4. Your veins need to work properly to deliver blood to your heart and the entire cardiovascular system. To understand more on this process, here’s a brief primer:  • Your veins take oxygen-depleted blood back to your heart  • Your vein valves typically prevent the blood from flowing backward  • When these valves malfunction, your veins may struggle to send deoxygenated blood back to your heart • Valves that don’t work properly will let the blood flow backward • When this occurs, your blood can start to pool and venous insufficiency develops

5. Vein Disease, Blood Pressure, and Peripheral Edema When blood begins to collect in the lower legs, your blood pressure can rise. When this happens, your capillaries may become damaged and leak proteins inside your tissues. This leakage sometimes causes a buildup of blood cells, proteins, and fluids. The buildup can result in excessive swelling in the legs, also known as peripheral edema.  If you suffer from vein disease, you may notice swollen feet and legs along with itchy, red-toned skin. Over time, the affected areas may crack or break open. In severe cases, your skin can eventually develop venous ulcers –– or non-healing, open wounds. We recommend seeking treatment for your vein disease before this potentially dangerous condition can develop.

6. Why Do Varicose Veins Itch? Vein disease can cause stasis dermatitis –– a type of skin inflammation. This commonly develops in the lower legs where blood collects. Along with itchiness, stasis dermatitis often involves other issues like hyper-pigmentation, scaling, and ulceration.  Common Signs Of Stasis Dermatitis Include: • Aching or heaviness in your legs when you walk or stand for a longer period • Swelling in your ankles by the end of the day • Visible, raised veins in your legs • Dry, itchy skin in the affected area • Irritated, swollen, red, and sore skin

7. As Stasis Dermatitis Progresses, You May Experience: • Dry, itchy, cracked skin • Swelling spreads to the calf • Ulcers or sores leak fluid when they’re healing • Open sores with a violet or red color on your lower legs or ankles In Severe Cases Of Stasis Dermatitis, You May Notice: • The skin of your lower leg may become extremely itchy and hard • If left untreated, the affected area may become highly prone to infections • Shrinking in your calves 

8. How to Treat Itchy Varicose Veins Our vein specialists at USA Vein Clinics offer several treatment options for varicose veins. These ultrasound-guided methods use lasers, foam, chemicals, or a combination to close off any malfunctioning vein valves. This results in the diversion of blood flow into your surrounding, healthy veins. Our treatments for itchy varicose veins include: • ENDOVENOUS LASER THERAPY (EVLT) • VARITHENA VEIN TREATMENT • ULTRASOUND GUIDED SCLEROTHERAPY • ClariVein® Treatment

9. USA Vein Clinics Knows How to Stop Varicose Veins Itching As the top-rated vein treatment center in the country, USA Vein Clinics offer 90 state-of-the-art locations in 14 states. Established in 2005, our highly regarded vein specialists have helped over 100,000 individuals resolve their venous insufficiency.  If you are suffering from vein disease, please take the first step towards recovery by scheduling an initial consultation. When you come in, be assured that we are following strict precautionary measures to help avoid the spread of COVID-19.  To schedule a consultation, you may choose one of these options: • Contact us at (888) 768-3467 • Schedule an appointment with our online system • Request a virtual doctor visit