Veiny Feet – Meaning, Why are my feet so veiny, and How to Get Rid of it

What are those nasty looking dark blue or purple leg veins doing on your beautiful legs? Why are some women blessed to live their lives without developing the ugly leg veins, while most of us cannot avoid the condition? As with most of us, genetics plays an important role in making some women more susceptible than others to develop the condition. Another factor is age although even young women can develop varicose and spider veins.

Veiny feet meaning

What does a veiny foot mean? The word “varicose” is derived from the Latin word “varix” which can be translated as twisted or gnarled. A varicose vein is close to the skin’s surface and for one of several reasons blood is not flowing properly through it which in turn causes the blood to pool causing the vein to swell and enlarge.

Varicose veins are most often seen in women on the legs. They are most common on the lower half of the body due to all the pressure the legs and ankles experience from standing. Varicose veins and spider veins are closely related, but they are not exactly the same thing even though the two terms are often used interchangeably.

Signs and Symptoms of Veiny Feet

Varicose veins are normally easy to diagnose. Besides the veins swelling and taking on a spider-like appearance look for the following:

The veins themselves are blue, purple, or red in appearance. They can form anywhere on your legs, but they are most common in the backs of your calves, or on the inside of your legs.

A feeling of heaviness in your legs, which might be accompanied by throbbing, burning, muscle cramping, and swelling.

Itching near your veins.

If skin ulcers appear on your legs than this is a severe case and you should seek medical attention.

FACTS

1. Varicose veins are big, blue, swollen and twisted veins underneath the skin.
2. Varicose and spider veins can happen to any vein but are more commonly found in the leg veins.
3. Ulcers can form if this condition worsens.
4. 80 000 Americans have varicose or spider veins. Women are four times as likely to have varicose or spider veins.

Causes of the veiny foot (varicose veins)

Why are my feet so veiny?

• Prolonged periods of standing or sitting with legs crossed at the knee are the most common causes of spider veins in the legs. It is recommended to change positions regularly to keep blood circulating and sit with legs crossed at the ankles rather than the knee.
• Problems with the tiny valves inside veins that regulate blood flow, or a smaller than a normal number of these valves.
• Hormonal deviations (such as those during pregnancy or menopause) and excessive exposure to the sun can also contribute to the formation of varicose veins.

The cause of varicose veins is due to weak vein walls and the failure of the veins one-way valves which help return the blood to your heart and lungs. As your body ages, veins weaken and stretch and the blood sits in your veins and loses oxygen causing the veins to turn blue.

This condition is aggravated by obesity, sitting or standing for extended periods.

As noted very few of us are immune from developing varicose veins or the mini version spider veins so what can we do to minimize the problem. How about exercising, walking, or running to keep the blood circulating. Watch your weight, if you are overweight.

How to get rid of veiny feet?

Eating a high fiber diet and a low salt diet will minimize water retention. Tight-fitting clothing and high heels will also contribute to developing the condition, so avoid them.

Wear low heeled shoes instead and avoid tight clothes that reduce your blood flow from your legs.

A few more tips, avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time if possible, move around at least every half hour.

Also try not to sit with your legs crossed, in other words, avoid anything that reduces blood circulation in your legs. When possible elevate your legs above your heart several times a day.

This is not to say that you should stand on your head but at least put your feet up on your desk and relax. While there may be no way to prevent varicose veins completely, unless you are one of the lucky few, reduce your chances of developing serious cases of varicose vein problems by improving blood circulation.

Now, what if you already have a bad case of varicose veins what’s a woman to do. A simple method that may help that does not involve medical intervention is using compression stockings this should help to move blood from your legs back to the heart.

Veiny Feet Treatments

If you decide that your condition has declined beyond what you can live with then it is time to discuss with your doctor the various medical treatments available for varicose veins.

The most common treatment for varicose veins is sclerotherapy. This procedure involves injecting your veins with a solution that scars and closes your veins. 

Another successful treatment for varicose veins that do not involve needles or surgery is a laser veins treatment, this procedure uses laser light to make the veins disappear.

In severe cases several other surgeries are used for the treatment of varicose veins, Phlebectomy is a procedure where your doctor removes smaller veins through small skin punctures.

In advanced cases endoscopy is performed where your doctor closes veins and removes the veins from your leg. All of the above varicose surgeries and treatments are performed on an outpatient basis.

Conclusion

Varicose veins (veiny feet)  are swollen or enlarged blood vessels. The blood vessels are enlarged because of a weakening in the vein’s walls or valves.

Women are four times more likely to develop varicose veins because of pregnancy and hormonal differences.

Symptoms are Highly visible enlarged veins underneath the skin of the legs. Brownish skin discoloration on ankles. Achy or itchy legs. Skin ulcers near ankles. Swelled feet or ankles.

Varicose veins are frequently treated by destroying or eliminating the bad veins.

Varicose veins may become a serious condition because it can be associated with one of the following conditions:

• Phlebitis – this is the inflammation of the veins. (More)
• Thromboses – this occurs when blood clots form in the enlarged veins.
• Venous Stasis Ulcers – these open sores are formed when inadequate drainage in the enlarged vein is not being met.