Varicose veins and rosacea

Varicose veins-dilated, nonfunctioning, unattractive veins-develop on the lower limbs. They are generally hereditary, but may be brought on or aggravated by a number of factors:

• Prolonged standing or sitting
• Hormonal changes (adolescence, pregnancy, menopause)
• Obesity
• Sports that involve a lot of jumping
• Heat

There are three types of varicose veins:

1. Truncal varicose veins, which affect the larger veins (internal and external saphenous veins);
2. Reticular varicose veins, which occur all over the limbs but do not affect the larger veins
3. Spider veins, which occur in the most superficial blood vessels and whose unattractiveness often leads individuals to see a doctor.

Though often asymptomatic, varicose veins do have a rather long list of symptoms:

• Heaviness
• Numbness
• Restlessness, especially at night
• Tingling sensation
• Swelling
• Burning sensation
• Cramps

If left untreated, varicose disease can lead to hypodermitis, a condition in which the texture of the skin on the legs changes; it hardens, becomes browner in colour and more brittle. Varicose ulcers-open wounds that are very hard to treat-are a late complication and of particularly great concern.

Rosacea is characterized by small red blood vessels on the cheeks, nose and chin and is a very mild form of dilation of the veins. It may be a sign of acne rosacea, an equally mild disease, which is often accompanied by acne lesions (papules and pustules).