Spider veins, also known as telangiesctasias, are a relatively common condition affecting at least one in five adults.
Although this is largely a cosmetic condition with few if any severe effects, many people look for ways on how to get rid of spider veins and to minimize the unsightly skin appearance.
Read on to learn more about effective ways to get rid of spider veins.
What Are Spider Veins
Spider veins are groups of small blood vessels that show through the skin. These veins typically look blue, red, or purple and commonly appear on the legs or face.
Causes of Spider Veins
Veins play an important role in transporting blood to the heart. Along the length of these veins are valves that prevent blood from flowing back from the heart.
However, these valves can stop working normally, therefore, allowing blood to flow back through the veins. This backflow mechanism increases the pressure in the vein, weakens the walls of the blood vessels, and increases the risk of vein dilation and rupture.
Risk Factors
Women face a higher risk of developing spider veins. Other risk factors include:
- Standing or sitting for long durations
- Pregnancy
- Hormone therapy
- Vein surgery
- Birth control pills
- Family history
Symptoms
The most common symptom of spider vein is a cluster of reddish, bluish, or purplish tiny blood vessels that appear on the surface of the skin.
Other symptoms that accompany spider veins though very rare include:
- Heaviness in the legs
- Cramping in the legs
- Tingling sensation
- Aching
- Itching
Other rare effects include wounds and skin discoloration.
Best Treatments For Spider Veins
Numerous treatments claiming to cure spider veins are available and selecting the best one can be a bit challenging.
We have done some research and looked at some user reviews and comments in an effort to discover the best products to help get rid of spider veins.
Below are our top three recommendations for topical treatments for spider veins.
How To Get Rid Of Spider Veins: Alternative Treatments
Sometimes, management of spider veins requires specialized cosmetic procedures. Some of these include:
Sclerotherapy
This non-painful procedure involves your doctor injecting a liquid medication into the abnormal veins. This causes the veins to rapture and fade away eventually. For best results, you may need several sclerotherapy sessions. Possible side effects include discoloration, bleeding, bruising and swelling.
Laser Therapy:
Your doctor may recommend laser therapy in addition to sclerotherapy for optimal results. Laser therapy utilizes a focused beam of light to collapse the affected veins, which eventually disappear after weeks or months following several treatment sessions.
Summary
Spider veins are common but it is understandable why you may want to get rid of this skin condition. You will come across plenty of products claiming to treat spider veins.
Opt for products with natural ingredients, as these are less likely to irritate your skin and exacerbate the appearance of broken blood vessels.
Both topical and medical treatments for spider veins require consistent use over a duration of time in order to deliver any tangible results. So be patient and follow through with treatment and your spider veins will eventually resolve.