Getting under your skin with varicose veins

From the back of our hands to the back of our legs, pale blue blood vessels are visible just under the skin. Oftentimes these veins are flat and not painful. However when these vessels become abnormally swollen or dilated, they are called varicose veins. This swelling is caused by the valves inside the veins becoming weak and no longer sealing tightly. Varicose veins can become painful, quite large and stick out from the surface of the skin.

In order for blood to return from your feet back to the heart, the blood must be pumped up against gravity. Check valves in the veins are what keep the bl...