Vein conditions
Each page explains what the condition is, the symptoms to look out for, when to get help urgently, and how it is assessed and treated.
- Varicose veinsVaricose veins are enlarged, tortuous veins caused by failing one-way valves, which let blood flow backwards and pool in the lower legs.
- Spider veinsSpider veins are small red or blue veins just below the skin surface, often fed by deeper reticular veins.
- Venous leg ulcersMost leg ulcers that won't heal are venous ulcers, caused by high pressure in the leg veins.
- Urgent: not treated at our centresBlood clot in the leg (DVT)A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein of the leg, usually in the calf or thigh.
- Superficial thrombophlebitisSuperficial thrombophlebitis is clotting and inflammation in a vein just under the skin, most often a varicose vein, causing a hard, red, tender vein.
- Vulval and vaginal varicose veinsVulval and vaginal varicose veins affect about 1 in 10 women, usually from the second trimester of pregnancy, and most clear up after the birth.
- Varicose veins in pregnancyVaricose veins are common in pregnancy because blood volume rises, hormones relax the vein walls and the uterus presses on the pelvic veins.
- Recurrent varicose veinsVaricose veins that return after treatment are common and do not necessarily mean the first operation was done badly.
Not sure which applies to you?
A suspected blood clot in the leg (DVT) needs same-day care at an emergency department or your GP. Our centres do not diagnose or treat acute DVT. We do see patients later, when symptoms persist after a DVT or varicose veins develop afterwards.
Start with what you are noticing on the symptoms page, or take the free online screening. Every new patient has a duplex ultrasound scan, because vein problems cannot be judged reliably from appearance alone.