When spider veins appear, they may make you frantic. The small, squiggly purple, red and blue veins develop near the surface of your skin and can affect many parts of your body. When they appear, they can ultimately take a toll on your self-confidence and may prevent you from wearing your favorite clothing. The unsightly veins can lead you to endlessly search the internet for information that will help remove them. You may have read hundreds of articles, and some of them may have claimed that specific natural remedies can correct your spider veins.
Let’s consider what spider veins are and if it is possible to get rid of them naturally.
What Are Spider Veins and How Do They Form?
Your body consists of a complex system of veins that help transport blood throughout your body. From your head to your toes, veins are present. However, for certain parts of your body, the veins that are present need an extra push to reach your heart, through which blood recirculates. Blood in the lower half of your body works against the forces of gravity as it transports through your veins. Your leg muscles provide the extra energy needed for the blood to move, and vein valves are in place to prevent the blood from slipping backward.
Spider veins primarily form when your leg muscles are not providing the necessary energy your veins need due to lack of movement and when your vein valves become damaged. Because of these reasons, blood can begin to pool in your vein walls, gradually causing pressure to build. Your vein walls continue to expand and eventually protrude through the surface of your skin.
Factors That Put You at Risk for Spider Veins
While the precise cause for spider veins is not entirely known, certain factors can potentially put you at risk for their development. These factors include:
Obesity
Too much weight can put pressure on your vein valves and walls, causing them to damage.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Your leg muscles provide the necessary energy you need, so blood flow remains constant. When you are not moving your legs, blood can potentially pool, leading to spider vein formation.
Age
Over time, your blood vessels can weaken over time.
Hormonal Changes
If you experience a change in estrogen levels, whether through hormone replacement therapy or birth control, your vein walls can potentially weaken.
Pregnancy
Weight gain and changes in your hormone levels can put pressure on your veins and potentially weaken them.
Skin Conditions
Certain skin conditions, such as rosacea, can potentially affect the health of your veins.
Alcoholism and Smoking
Both of these substances are known to take a toll on blood circulation.
Spider veins affect approximately 50 percent of women in their life and around 30 percent of men. The condition is common and can even affect men or women that are seemingly healthy and active. However, some factors will put you at a greater risk for spider vein development, as with any medical condition. Genetics can also significantly affect your risk of developing spider veins. If one or both of your parents have spider veins, you are more likely to develop the condition.
Natural Remedies That Claim to Get Rid of Spider Veins
Many online articles claim there are natural remedies for spider veins. Many spider vein sufferers resort to trying these natural remedies. While these natural remedies can potentially help mitigate the discomfort and swelling associated with spider veins. They will not resolve the issue. You will still have unsightly veins. Additionally, these natural remedies are not FDA-approved to treat spider veins and can potentially lead to side effects if they have negative interactions with other medications you are taking.
Natural remedies that claim to get rid of spider veins include:
Apple Cider Vinegar
Many health blogs claim that apple cider vinegar can rid the body of spider veins, but this is not the case. Apple cider vinegar is known to help improve healthier blood flow and circulation. Because of this, apple cider vinegar can potentially reduce the possibility of spider veins forming, but it will not make the condition go away.
Herbal Supplements
There are several herbal supplements that can help alleviate the symptoms associated with spider veins, but they will not make them go away. Some herbal supplements that can help improve spider vein discomfort include garlic, cayenne and turmeric. Butcher’s broom is particularly beneficial if your legs feel heavy or achy at the end of the day because of spider veins.
Essential Oils
Like herbal supplements and apple cider vinegar, certain essential oils can help alleviate symptoms, such as inflammation, that are associated with spider veins. Essential oils should be applied via a hot or cold compress, in a bath or utilized as a massage oil. Essential oils like cypress can help aid in circulation.
Massage
A massage is an excellent way to stimulate healthy blood circulation and relieve pain and swelling associated with spider veins. You should only undergo a massage when a licensed therapist performs it.
Should I Use Natural Remedies to Get Rid of My Spider Veins?
There are many supplements and oils, among other things, that health blogs and articles claim will rid your body of spider veins, but this is not true. You should not use natural remedies to get rid of your spider veins. However, if you are wary of spider veins forming or perhaps you have had your spider veins removed and are nervous of them returning, then these natural remedies can help aid in preventing their formation.
Natural remedies are also not the safest. It’s best to consult with a professional phlebologist to see what you can do to stave off the formation of spider veins. Certain herbs and oils can potentially interact poorly with medications you are already taking, so a trained practitioner can let you know which will be best for you. Certain herbs and oils can potentially diminish spider veins’ appearance for a short period of time, but since they are not treating the issue, spider veins can reappear.
A Spider Vein Treatment That Is Safe and Effective
Sure, you can spend hours searching the web for what natural remedies you can take to correct your spider veins, but you will be disappointed. Certain natural remedies will improve blood circulation, inflammation and discomfort, but they are not getting to the root cause of spider veins. Spider veins result when your vein valves and walls become damaged. Correcting this issue will not be possible through natural remedies alone. While some remedies will lessen the appearance of the condition, it is not correcting it. An effective treatment that will correct your spider vein concerns is:
Cosmetic Sclerotherapy
Cosmetic sclerotherapy is a successful and proven method for spider vein removal. The treatment is the most popular nonsurgical method for correcting spider veins. The treatment involves injecting a specialized sclerosing solution directly into the spider vein. When the sclerosing solution goes into the spider vein, it causes the pooled blood to liquify and displace. The vein wall then closes off and collapses, causing the protruding spider veins to no longer define your appearance. Any remaining blood is then rerouted to other veins naturally.
What Else Can Be Done to Prevent Spider Veins From Forming?
Natural Remedies can potentially be an excellent way to keep spider veins from forming again if used safely and with an expert’s advice. However, there are other steps you can take that will help you prevent spider veins from forming. Namely, lifestyle adjustments can keep spider veins at bay. Adjustments you can make include:
Apply sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen regularly can protect the blood vessels underlying your skin. Doing so can prevent damage caused by the sun’s UV rays.
Quit smoking
Tobacco smoke affects your blood circulation. Quitting smoking can promote healthier blood flow.
Exercise
Moving your leg muscles promotes more excellent blood circulation. The veins of your lower extremities require a lot of energy to recirculate blood back into your heart, so exercise can provide that extra energy needed.
Wear compression stockings
Medical garments like compression stockings apply pressure to your veins to increase blood flow.
Maintain a healthy weight
Too much weight makes it difficult for your blood to flow correctly and puts pressure on the vein walls. Improving your weight can greatly reduce your risk for spider vein development.
Keep moving
Standing or sitting for prolonged periods can lead to spider veins. Keep moving by going for walks or stretching to encourage circulation.
Avoid tight clothing
Tight clothing can restrict your blood flow.
Put your feet up
When you lay down, try angling your legs so that they are above your chest. This allows blood in your lower extremities to flow more easily to your heart.
Treat Your Spider Veins the Right Way at The Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin
Cosmetic sclerotherapy is among the safest and most effective treatments to treat spider veins. While you can read pages and pages about this at-home remedy and that at-home remedy, you will not achieve complete removal of your spider veins through them. Have your spider veins successfully treated with cosmetic sclerotherapy at The Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin. Please schedule a consultation today by contacting us at 850-607-7570 or visit our contact page.