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Varicose veins:
More than a cosmetic problem

According to epidemiological studies, more than 80 percent of adults suffer from small varicose veins called spider veins. Up to 30 percent suffer from large varicose veins, also known as varicose trunks. The first damage can occur as early as the age of 20, with the frequency of the disease increasing with age. The superficial venous system, which runs in the fatty tissue under the skin, is particularly affected. This is because the muscles that surround the deep vein system as a so-called muscle pump lack strength here.

Profound consequences

If the superficial veins no longer fulfill their task, the deep veins have to take over the transport of blood back to the heart. This extra work means that sooner or later their valve system is at risk of irreparable damage due to overload. However, a valve disorder in the deep venous system can no longer be treated surgically. Instead, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) develops with serious and permanent consequences. Typical symptoms of CVI are pain after standing for a long time, heavy and tired or restless legs, itching, nocturnal calf cramps or a feeling of pressure and tension.

Varicose veins dermatology Sendlinger Tor treatments

The path to edema

The increase in volume in the deep veins leads to an increase in pressure in the vascular system, which in turn has an effect on the skin in the lower leg area. As the disease progresses, it often becomes darker, develops pigment deposits, more vein markings and appears firmer overall. This is known as dermatoliposclerosis. Individual areas can later become more sensitive, resulting in oedema, stasis dermatitis and ulcers. The medical term for this is “open leg” (ulcus cruris). At the same time, the risk of thrombosis increases, especially if the patient does not move, for example on long-haul flights.

Better sooner than later

The current guidelines of the German Phlebological Society recommend minimally invasive measures to treat varicose veins as early as possible. If symptoms appear on the leg, you should not wait until you have symptoms before taking action. Many venous diseases are easily recognizable just by looking and feeling. The gold standard in diagnostics today is the ultrasound procedure. Doppler sonography – or, even more comprehensively, modern color-coded duplex sonography – can be used to precisely localize and assess flow obstructions such as thromboses, flow reversals and valve leaks.

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