Varicose veins are enlarged blood vessels that form beneath the skin surface.

The condition is caused by the improper functioning of one-way valves in the veins that would normally channel the blood back to the heart, causing the blood to ‘pool’ in the veins.

This pooling stretches the veins, creating swollen and twisted blood vessels that appear under the skin as blue, rope-like veins.

These veins can become large and unattractive and can produce symptoms such as tiredness, heaviness, aching, burning, itching or cramping legs.