by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | Sep 2, 2025 | Blog, Venous Health
Varicose veins aren’t just a cosmetic concern. They can be a visible sign of changes happening inside your veins — and if your varicose veins look different than they used to, it’s important to take note.
Varicose veins that look larger, darker, or more twisted can leave you wondering if something more serious is going on. Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute offer varicose vein treatment, and understanding the common reasons varicose veins become more pronounced is the first step toward better comfort and long-term vein health.
Here are four possible reasons why your varicose veins might have started looking bigger and darker lately.
1. Increased pressure inside your veins
Healthy veins send blood from all corners of your body back to your heart. Varicose veins form when the small valves inside your leg veins weaken and blood starts to flow backward and pool instead of going back to your heart.
The backward flow and pooling increases pressure inside your veins and makes them stretch, bulge, and adopt a darker, more twisted appearance. Common causes of varicose veins include prolonged sitting or standing, obesity, pregnancy, and advancing age — and if you don’t address them early, they tend to become more pronounced with time.
2. Skin thinning or sun exposure
Sometimes, you might notice that veins appear darker simply because they’re more visible as your skin starts to get thinner with age. Skin thinning is a natural process, and it happens because collagen and elastin production decrease and the supportive fat layer under your skin also diminishes with time.
Other factors like sun exposure and heat can make veins stand out more sharply, too, even if their internal structure hasn’t changed. Exercise or high blood pressure can also temporarily make your veins look more prominent.
3. Inflammation and skin discoloration
Untreated varicose veins contribute to chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where the veins in your legs can’t effectively send blood back to your heart. The increased pressure and blood pooling that creates varicose veins in the first place can get more severe and cause more symptoms like inflammation and discoloration in your legs.
Along with inflammation, blood cells may start to break down, and this can cause changes in skin tone. You might notice darker patches of skin with brownish or rusty discoloration, particularly around your lower calves and ankles.
4. Lifestyle habits and hormonal changes
Other factors can have a significant impact on the look of your varicose veins, too. For example, pregnancy and hormonal shifts relax vein walls and elevate blood volume, amplifying a darker, swollen vein appearance.
Smoking damages vein walls and valves, increasing visible vein prominence. And even something as simple as wearing tight clothes or tight socks can make varicose veins look darker quickly.
Treatment options for varicose veins
If your veins are becoming more noticeable, and especially if they’re causing pain, itching, or other bothersome symptoms, treatment can help. Dr. Patel and our team start with a comprehensive exam and ultrasound mapping to assess vein function, and then we develop a personalized treatment plan.
Mild varicose veins may improve with simple lifestyle changes, like wearing graduated compression stockings to help improve blood flow, reduce swelling, and protect nearby tissues.
For more advanced varicose veins, minimally invasive procedures may be a good option. Treatments like radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser therapy, and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy close or collapse problematic veins with precision and minimal downtime.
Noticing changes in the appearance of your varicose veins doesn’t have to be cause for alarm. At NJ Cardiovascular Institute, we offer a full spectrum of treatments to help you manage symptoms, improve vein health, and restore comfort.
Schedule a consultation at one of our clinics in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, and Secaucus, New Jersey, to take the next step.
by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | Apr 2, 2024 | Blog, Venous Health
Have you noticed twisted, bulging veins on your legs or feet? They could be varicose veins. About one in five adults will get them at some point in their lives — and their presence can make you wonder if they’re a sign of a more dangerous health problem.
Varicose veins can be unsightly and sometimes uncomfortable, but the good news is that they usually don’t pose a serious threat to your well-being. Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute offer varicose vein treatment. We’ve helped adults of all ages understand varicose veins and how to manage them.
Learn more about what varicose veins are, what they could mean for your health, and what you can do about them.
All about varicose veins
Healthy veins have valves that open and close to keep blood flowing efficiently back to your heart. But sometimes, those valves malfunction or become weak, and blood starts flowing backward and pooling in your veins.
When blood pools, the veins get larger — and varicose veins form. Varicose veins are enlarged, swollen veins that typically appear blue or purple in color. Although they can develop anywhere, they’re most common in your legs and feet, where gravity makes it more difficult for blood to flow upward toward your heart.
Several factors can contribute to varicose veins, including genetics, age, obesity, pregnancy, and prolonged periods of standing or sitting. In fact, your risk of developing varicose veins is about 90% if both parents have varicose veins.
Understanding the possible complications of varicose veins
For most people, varicose veins are primarily a cosmetic concern. The bulging, twisted veins can be unsightly and embarrassing, but they usually don’t cause other problems.
However, some people do develop physical symptoms like aching, swelling, itching, or a feeling of heaviness in the legs. And in rare cases, varicose veins can also lead to more serious complications if they’re left untreated.
One possible complication is venous insufficiency. Impaired blood flow in the affected veins can cause chronic inflammation that, over time, can lead to more severe symptoms like skin discoloration, leg ulcers, and even blood clots.
Seeking treatment for varicose veins
If you have varicose veins, treatment can improve their appearance and lower your risk of more serious complications — whether you have painful symptoms or not. Dr. Patel specializes in radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for varicose veins, which is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat energy to seal off the affected veins.
RFA involves inserting a thin catheter into your varicose veins. We use ultrasound imaging to guide placement. And once in place, the catheter delivers radiofrequency energy to the vein wall.
This energy heats the vein and makes it collapse and seal shut. After treatment, your body gradually absorbs the treated vein and it fades from view. Your body naturally reroutes your blood through nearby healthy veins to restore normal blood flow.
RFA can be a great option to treat varicose veins because it requires only a small incision and local anesthesia. For many people, that means less pain, scarring, and downtime compared to more invasive varicose vein treatments. With the damaged vein closed off, you can expect to notice a significant improvement in symptoms like pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
While varicose veins may not always pose a direct threat to your health, it’s important to take your symptoms seriously. Whether you’re embarrassed about their appearance or they’re causing discomfort, it’s time to explore your treatment options.
Book a consultation at NJ Cardiovascular Institute in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, or Secaucus, New Jersey, to get started today.
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