Holistic Approaches to Diminish Spider Veins: Effective Strategies for Clearer, Healthier Skin

Over half of the adult population has varying degrees of changes in the superficial veins. In many people, however, it is only cosmetically unsightly spider veins, i.e. small reddish-blue veins on the thighs and lower legs, and not a pathological finding such as varicose veins (varicose veins).

Differentiate spider veins from couperose

Spider veins develop when small blood vessels, which lie just below the skin’s surface, dilate. They occur mainly in the lower half of the body, for example, on the legs, but sometimes also on the face. However, spider veins on the face are not couperose.

Couperose is a condition-related vasodilatation, which is highly branched and sometimes forms a network-like structure. Both the expression and the origin are different in couperose and spider veins.

 

Spider Veins: Cause and Costs

The causes of spider veins can often not be determined, but a congenital weakness of the connective tissue favours their formation, as well as that of varicose veins. Unlike varicose veins, spider veins do not necessarily need to be removed or treated.

But especially in summer, spider veins are annoying when you like to wear shorts or dresses, skirts and bikinis. Several outpatient procedures can be used to do something about spider veins.

 Statutory health insurance does not cover the costs of spider vein treatment.

Remove spider veins

What can you do against spider veins? There are three different ways to have spider veins removed:

• Spider veins decompose
• Apply spider vein cream
• Laser spider veins

Each of these three ways of removing spider veins is covered in the following paragraphs.

 

Spider veins decompose

First, spider veins can be removed chemically. Destroying the spider veins is called sclerotherapy in medical jargon. It takes about 30 minutes: an alcoholic sclerosing agent is injected into the spider veins with an excellent needle under local anaesthesia. The agent irritates the vessel wall and triggers local inflammation, resulting in the vein walls sticking together. The spider veins disappear. However, this method requires that the spider veins are large enough for the treating physician to hit them with a cannula.

There may be temporary slight pain at the injection site. A burning sensation may also occur. After the procedure, it is necessary to wear a pressure bandage or compression stocking. In addition, ugly brown spots can form on the skin.

Spider Veins: Cream as an antidote

There are also special spider vein creams with a high vitamin K1 content. This spider vein cream is applied to damp, warm skin twice daily. It penetrates deep into the connective tissue. There, vitamin K1 influences the ability to clot and increases blood circulation. This is how the spider vein cream relieves the veins.

Laser spider veins

The third and more commonly used treatment method is to have spider veins lasered – under local anaesthesia, mind you. Laser treatment of spider veins has fewer side effects than sclerotherapy, and no compression therapy is required.

The laser releases a focused amount of energy point by point as it is guided along the vessel to be treated on the surface of the leg. The red blood pigment absorbs it. As a result, the contents of the vessel deflagrate. A pressure wave is generated on the vessel walls; they smack together. Platelets attach themselves to the vessel walls so they stick together. Further blood flow is no longer possible.

Laser treatment of spider veins is particularly suitable for medium-sized and extraordinary spider veins. The sclerotherapy should be combined with the laser for more prominent spider veins.

 

Laser spider veins: painful?

The so-called feeding vessel, a slightly more prominent vein branch, sometimes has to be removed in advance with a mini-surgical procedure. Laser therapy can be done on an outpatient basis. Depending on the size of the area to be treated, the time required varies between 10 and 30 minutes. Additional sessions can be spaced three to four weeks apart.

Laser therapy is associated with a particular risk. Laser light can cause extreme inflammation. It can lead to a loss of pigment and, thus, to an imprint of the vein. The infection risk increases in the first few weeks after the laser has been used because the skin is still a little more permeable. And temporary allergic reactions such as itching or reddening of the skin can occur.

Prevent spider veins

Spider veins cannot be avoided entirely, but there are some things you can do to maintain venous health to prevent varicose veins from becoming a factor. Physical exercise is essential: Walking on park or forest paths with firm ground can improve the functionality of the veins because the tensing of the leg muscles puts pressure on the neighbouring veins. Cycling, decongestion gymnastics, swimming, dancing, cross-country skiing or hiking are also good.

Special vein exercises can be performed anywhere:

• While standing, raise and lower your heels or toes ten times.
• While seated, circle your feet ten times or lift and stretch your toes.
• Treading water and morning cold showers also counteract vein problems.

By the way, If you like to cross your legs, you should get out of the habit very quickly because this can also promote vein problems such as spider veins.