Spider veins are an annoyance that so many of us face way too often. If you're not sure if you have spider veins, they are red, blue or purple veins at the surface of the skin, that kind of look like a spider web of veins.
The causes of spider veins, or varicose veins, vary a lot. They could be from prolonged standing, (a lot of nurses and hairdressers get them). They could also be from obesity, birth control pills, bad circulation, pregnancy or even menopause.
If you choose to get these removed by a doctor, they will probably preform laser surgery or sclerotherapy. If you've gotten either of these procedures done before, you probably know that they don't stop the veins from coming back.
Obviously, it is too much to keep going back for these procedures every time these veins reoccur. Most people just live with these veins, avoiding shorts and dresses as much as possible. Luckily, there are home remedies that you can try to minimize the veins, and maybe even get rid of them.
1. Witch hazel
Witch hazel is an anti-inflammatory so, it can be used to shrink the veins. Just apply witch hazel soaked in a cotton ball to the area with the spider veins. Repeat two to three times a day to help reduce the blotchy appearance caused by spider veins.
There was actually a study done on witch hazel on varicose veins and researchers found that it helps keep blood within a damaged vein. They also said that witch hazel has always been used to treat varicose veins.
2. Ginger
Ginger works by improving your circulation. It does this by lowering your blood pressure and thinning the blood. A small amount won't do much, but try to implement it in your diet as often as possible. If you are already on blood thinning medication, talk to your doctor before eating large amounts of ginger on a regular basis.
I swear by this next one.
3. Apple cider vinegar
You can use apple cider vinegar to treat spider veins topically or orally. Topically, it was used in a study and the results were great. After three months of patients using it on their spider veins, it was found to increase the effect of conservative treatment and decrease symptoms without causing any side effects.
To apply it, just soak a cloth or tissue in it and wrap it around the area with the veins. Leave it for about 20 minutes and them remove it. Repeat this twice a day until they go away.
Drinking apple cider vinegar can help tame the inflammation of the veins. The results will show after a few months of drinking it. To drink it, mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of warm water and drink it before meals. You can increase the amount to a tablespoon, if you can stand the taste.
4. Massage
This one might seem obvious as to how it works, but you may have never tried it before. Massaging your veins is a great way to improve your circulation in the area, as well as reducing pain and inflammation.
To effectively do this, massage the area gently with oil. Do this for several minutes every day and you should see results in a few weeks.
5. Elevation
Elevating your feet above the level of your heart three or four times a day for about 15 minutes at a time helps to reduce the pressure on your legs. Also, try to avoid standing for long periods of time, and also avoid wearing high heels. These can both be causes of the veins.