Spider veins, also known as Telangiectasia, are a common skin condition that’s caused by the dilation of capillaries in the skin. It typically affects the legs and appears as red or blue lines on the surface of your skin. The effect can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. If spider veins are particularly large or bright purple, they can look like bruises under your skin. Spider veins are caused by weak connective tissue in your body which causes blood vessels to become swollen with blood. These dilated, thin-walled blood vessels often form a linear pattern on the surface of the affected area – giving these types of veins their name: “spider” veins. There are two kinds of spider veins: reticular veins and telangiectatic. Reticular veins are irregularly shaped, small vessels with thick walls, like a spider’s web (hence the name). Telangiectatic veins are larger thin-walled dilated blood vessels that look like little red or blue lines on the skin’s surface.
Maintain Proper Leg Health
Maintaining proper leg health is important to avoid future complications. Your first line of defense against spider veins is good leg care after you shave your legs to avoid inflammation and scarring. Be sure to moisturize daily with unscented lotions or oils, as fragrances can irritate your skin further. If you have reticular spider veins, find a vein doctor, a dermatologist, or other healthcare professional to discuss treatment options. You should also get to know the symptoms and warning signs of spider veins, such as:
- Aching pain in your legs
- Itchy legs
- Fatigue in your lower body
- Skin ulcers
- Swollen ankles and feet
Depending on how severe your spider vein case is, your doctor may recommend sclerotherapy, laser vein treatment, ablation, or surgery as treatment options. These treatments push the blood vessels closed by blocking them, either with liquid or tiny coils. It’s important to note that you should avoid shaving your legs before these procedures since this will make it harder for the doctor to evaluate your veins under magnification.
Wear Compression Stockings or Socks
You should wear compression stockings or socks if you have severe cases of spider veins. These will place pressure on the veins in the lower legs and help prevent further blood clots and clotting in existing ones. This is because the pressure helps improve blood flow in and around the affected areas.
Let Your Skin Breathe
Spiders need air! Be sure to wear sunscreen on all your exposed skin when outside so that it’s not irritated by sunburns. If you feel discomfort while wearing long pants or socks, then try using talcum powder for relief from itchiness.
Limit Intake of Salt
To effectively treat spider veins you should limit your salt intake. Salt can increase water retention which means it also increases blood volume thus increasing blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the main causes of spider veins so limiting salt intake is a great start to treating this condition.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin can help you get rid of dead cells that may have been trapped under the skin while forming these veins. Regular exfoliation will improve blood circulation thus improving any existing symptoms and preventing spider veins from appearing in the first place. Furthermore, lemon juice mixed with sugar is an excellent homemade exfoliator for at-home treatments.
Take Vitamin K
Foods rich in Vitamin K are known to be helpful when it comes to the treatment of spider veins because they encourage blood clotting which strengthens vein walls and prevents them from breaking or rupturing. Some examples of foods rich in vitamin K include spinach, kale, broccoli, and avocado.
Apply Turmeric
Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties which make turmeric great when it comes to treating spider veins. Applying turmeric mixed with olive oil on the affected area can help you treat these veins without leaving scars or marks on your skin. Furthermore, turmeric is also added to several beauty products that are designed to fade dark spots and marks thus making this spice a valuable addition to your beauty regimen as well.
Drink More Water
Drinking plenty of water is always encouraged to maintain good health but it becomes even more important when you are trying to treat spider veins. Although the exact reason why water helps spider veins has not been confirmed, experts believe that hydration may help improve blood circulation thereby strengthening vein walls and making them less likely to break or rupture.
Spider veins are a common form of broken capillaries that appear on the skin as tiny red lines which resemble the web of a spider. Spider veins can be caused by factors such as heredity, age, weight gain, or pregnancy and they do not cause any symptoms until they become ruptured or inflamed. Fortunately, there are several home remedies and treatments designed to help you treat spider veins. The tips included in this article will help you reduce the appearance of these broken capillaries, restore your skin’s normal color and prevent them from rupturing or becoming inflamed.
