Varicose Veins – Hot Weather Advice

Varicose vein sufferers will have even more reason to resent the current UK heatwave, as hot temperatures can exacerbate leg vein problems. 

The body’s natural response to heat is for the veins to expand or dilate. This reaction is designed to regulate body temperature – delivering more blood nearer to the skin’s surface in order to lose excess body heat.  However, swelling veins can also cause blood to pool – a root cause of varicose veins.

For those who already have varicose veins, it is vitally important to minimise excessive heat, as this will cause veins to expand and this can make varicose veins worse both in the short and long term.

In the short term, varicose veins can look and feel worse on a hot summer day. The same applies to spending time in a sauna or a hot bath.

Once the veins may start to feel better; but if the veins have become further damaged they sadly don’t repair themselves; so varicose veins can certainly get worse as a result of hot temperatures. So a heatwave could cause both short term and long term damage.

Hot Weather Advice for Varicose Veins

• The best advice is to avoid excessive heat as much as possible. Avoid sunbathing and being active in a heatwave. Instead it is best to stay indoors or in the shade
• Keeping legs elevated can be helpful to stop blood pooling
• A cool footbath can be very helpful to keep the leg temperature regulated. For severe varicose veins, a cold compress (e.g. cold flannel) can help to bring some relief

Varicose & Thread Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics’ dedicated  London Vein Treatment Centre offers EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein). This is a very competitive price compared to other providers and treatment can be arranged very quickly, avoiding frustrating waiting lists.

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.