What are varicose veins? Varicose veins are swollen veins that are most likely to appear in your legs, but can also be found in the vulva or other areas. The symptoms of varicose veins are obvious and appear as bulges close to the surface of your skin, sometimes blue or purple in color, and they appear to be curved. In fact, hemorrhoids are varicose veins in the rectum. Varicose veins may not make you feel uncomfortable, or you may just feel a little uncomfortable. sometimes