Tens of millions of Americans suffer from varicose vein disease. Veins in the lower extremities and the pelvis channel the blood back to the heart against gravity. One way valves in the lower extremity veins keep the blood from pooling downwards (refluxing). When these valves don’t function properly, such veins become congested with blood and enlarged. These are called varicose veins. When very close to skin, they can be bulging, kinky, and easily visible. If they are a little deeper they can be seen using vein light or ultrasound. Spider veins are the small red, blue, or purple veins on the skin surface.