Varicose veins are gnarled, enlarged veins most often seen just under the surface of the skin. The name varicose comes from the Latin root varix, meaning twisted. Any vein may become varicose, but the most commonly affected areas are legs and feet.

Smaller spider veins appear as short, fine threadlike lines, star burst clusters, or a web-like maze. These unsightly vessels, medically referred to as telangectasias, may range in color from red to blue or purple and will never become the large bulging varicose veins.