If you’re wondering how to get rid of spider veins, you’ve probably already come across a bunch of the internet’s suggestions. When I noticed a series of faint blue lines twisting around my thigh, some of the recommended home remedies I saw included ginger tea, massage, and even exercise. But here’s the honest truth: That’s all B.S. Visible veins aren’t something you can fix at home.
So I talked to dermatologists and surgeons who specialize in treating spider veins and varicose veins (the larger, raised visible veins that often appear on the legs). What I learned is that the underlying causes of these visible veins aren’t always preventable—and they can be a sign of a much deeper vein problem that no home remedy is likely to fix. Here’s how to get rid of spider veins for real—and why it’s so important to see a specialist to do so.
What actually are spider veins?
There are two common types of visible veins: spider veins and varicose veins. “Spider veins are really small superficial veins that are in the outer layer of skin between the dermis and epidermis, so you can see them,” Christopher Hollingsworth, M.D., a general surgeon at NYC Surgical Associates, tells SELF. “If you live long enough, most people are going to get them.” These veins get their name because they look like thin, weblike, blue-and-purple lines on the legs.
Varicose veins, on the other hand, are larger veins that are deeper in the body. “You won’t see them as a discoloration, you’ll see them when they get so stretched out that they kind of bulge,” Dr. Hollingsworth says.
Because these two issues are caused by similar blood-flow situations, varicose and spider veins commonly occur together. That means that people who have varicose veins almost always have spider veins too. However, some people get spider veins and never have a problem with varicose veins.
Read more at SELF.com
ShareAUG
2020