The Guardian Explores Common Vein Problems

Everything you wanted to know about vein problems

(but were too busy pulling up your socks to ask)

A feature in The Guardian explores common vein problems – varicose veins and thread veins. 

The feature illustrates just how many Brits suffer from difficulties with the way their veins look and function

• 15-20% develop visible varicose veins
  • An equivalent proportion may have hidden ones, which can cause achy legs, swelling ankles, discoloured skin
• 84% get thread veins on our legs

The Guardian summarises the underlying problem very succinctly:

“Both conditions arise from the same basic issue: pressure in the vessels that return blood from the feet and legs back up to the heart.”

When the veins don’t close properly, some of the blood from the legs which should be pushed back towards the heart can come back down, enlarging the vein wall and resulting in thread veins or varicose veins. The swelling of the vein makes it more visible at the skin’s surface. What’s more, the enlarged veins tend to become even less efficient as a result, so the problem can continue to get worse.

Are Vein Problems a Medical Concern?

The Guardian article states:

“Thread veins are largely a cosmetic issue, but ignoring varicose veins can cause problems.

“For instance, an estimated 3-6% of people with varicose veins will develop leg ulcers – painful sores that can take months to heal – at some point.

“And a greater proportion of people may develop less serious symptoms, such as skin damage, or swollen ankles.”

Read more in The Guardian.

Treatment is available on the NHS, but tends to be reserved for those with varicose veins serious complications, such as sores, ulcers and difficulty sleeping.

Varicose & Thread Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private varicose vein treatment and see many patients who have been refused treatment on the NHS.

Their 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).

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.