Many people don’t consider varicose veins to be pretty. Although pants are good at hiding these veins, it’s not always comfortable or appropriate to wear them, especially in the warm state of Florida. You may have sought out other ways to hide these veins and come across varicose veins and spider veins creams in stores or advertisements. Do these products work? Not entirely. Although some of these creams or lotions can reduce the appearance of these diseased veins, there is no product that has been scientifically proven to rid your body of either varicose or spider veins.

So, what do these “too-good-to-be-true” lotions do exactly? Many of these topical creams and lotions will give your skin some benefit, but they are not a long-term solution to a venous insufficiency or associated condition. Some of these lotions include vitamin K, which can temporarily reduce the appearance of the vein on the skin; it does this by creating a transient clot in the vein, but as soon as this clot disappears, the vein reappears.

In general, lotions and creams are great for skin hydration and skin firming, which can help make all the skin, including the skin above the varicose or spider veins, look better, but it will not remove the veins.

Some of these products may also contain ingredients that provide temporary pain relief. If you have varicose veins, you may be experiencing heaviness in the legs, achiness, swelling, and other painful symptoms. These creams and lotions may temporarily relieve some of the pain, but it does not get rid of the problem. Varicose veins, unlike spider veins, can be a sign of a potentially dangerous health problem going on in the body, which is why you’re experiencing pain. It’s best you don’t ignore the pain or try to “hide” it with a cream.

Bottom line, varicose veins and spider veins creams and lotions will not make these diseased veins go away. The best they can do is temporarily reduce the appearance and painful symptoms.

Varicose veins and spider veins can appear on your body for a number of different reasons, including: lifestyle choices, age, gender, weight, and activity level.  The most common reason? Genetics. Even if you regularly apply creams, there is no way to prevent these veins from appearing if it’s hereditary.

If you have yet to develop varicose or spider veins, your best way to prevent them is to eat healthy, exercise, maintain a healthy weight, don’t smoke, and avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time.

Don’t opt for a cream or lotion if you currently have varicose or spider veins. Go to a vein specialist to evaluate your symptoms. The only way to properly treat varicose veins and spider veins is through compression therapy or minimally-invasive surgery.

If you have varicose or spider veins and are looking for a vein specialist, contact Dr. Peter Mikhail. Dr. Mikhail treats patients for venous insufficiencies in Tampa, Clearwater, and New Port Richey, Florida. Click here or call (727) 312-4844 to book a consult with Dr. Mikhail today.

Author Info

dzadmin