English
Spanish
A small nick in the shower after shaving your legs is usually nothing to worry about unless you live with protruding varicose veins that can cause excessive bleeding from a small wound.
If you’ve had varicose veins for a while or know someone who has, you’ve probably heard about how varicose veins can rupture, causing unexpected bleeding without a specific accident or injury to cause it, especially in the shower.
Varicose veins that protrude above the skin’s surface can bleed if injured or under a lot of pressure.
Let’s explore the cause and what to do if you experience sudden leg bleeding in or immediately following a shower.
What causes sudden leg bleeding after a shower?
The leading cause of sudden leg bleeding after a shower is vein disease or chronic venous insufficiency, which is improper functioning of the vein valves in one or more legs.
This venous condition causes pressure to build up in your affected veins over time.
As part of the body’s normal circulatory process, blood should flow from the legs back up to the heart in a steady and fluid manner.
For those living with venous insufficiencies, it’s simply not the case.
When blood flows down into the legs, it has trouble making it back to the heart. Due to this, pressure gradually builds up in the veins, leading to vein enlargement and a protruding appearance beneath the skin’s surface.
Why are my veins affected by a shower?
The veins most at risk for rupturing are located near the ankles and appear as tiny, bulging, blue varicose veins.
They are generally located near the skin surface. Over time, as the veins expand and bulge, the overlying skin becomes thinner and weaker, making it easier to rupture.
A rupture most frequently occurs in the shower because the heat from the water and steam and washing motions of cleaning your legs break the skin and cause the affected veins to open, resulting in sudden and unexplained bleeding.
How should I treat the bleeding?
The best way to treat bleeding is with steady, even pressure applied to the affected area immediately following the rupture.
Bleeding should slow and stop within a few minutes after pressure is applied.
You may consider lying down and elevating your affected leg to further slow bleeding.
Seek immediate medical attention if the bleeding does not subside or worsens quickly.
Successful vein disease diagnosis and treatment in Virginia
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of vein disease, such as sudden leg bleeding, our team of vein experts can help.
Don’t delay care. Visit one of our Virginia Vein Care locations today for a personalized consultation and treatment plan.