What Are Spider Veins?
Telangiectasia (spider veins) are the visible signs of an underlying venous insufficiency problem, where venous blood escapes from the normal flow of blood into an already congested leg.
Spider Veins are a mild form of venous insufficiency, which are cosmetically unappealing, but generally not dangerous or health threatening.
Spider veins are a very small thread like veins. They are generally blue or red in color. These veins are found more on legs and face. These veins are a big cosmetic problem as they disfigure the look of the skin. Let us find out how they form and how to get rid of them.
How do they form?
Venous insufficiency is caused by valves in the veins that have broken down. These valves prevent blood flow back to the arteries. If their integrity is compromiseD, blood can accumulate and collect. This condition in aggravated in people who are sedentary or obese and likewise aggravated by hormonal imbalances found in pregnancy or with the use of HRT and chemical birth control.
Spider veins are thought to form due to genetic reasons. Women get them more than men and they develop after an age. Young people don’t suffer from this problem much. They form a web like bundle that spreads from a center and that is why it is called spider veins.
Spider Veins are different than varicose veins. In varicose veins, the veins get pressurized by blood and protrude from the skin surface. Ulceration of varicose veins causes a medical problem.
Spider veins are often associated with the use of HRT and birth control pills. High levels of estrogen from these medications seem to aggravate venous insufficiency. If you are using birth control pills for contraception, you may want to ask your doctor for a lower-estrogen dose formula. If you are on HRT, you may want to consider switching to a lower dose, adding progesterone, or using a weaker formula, such as an estrone cream.
Treatment for Spider Veins
The only method of treatment of spider veins is destruction. They can be destroyed in many ways. Your doctor may use a fine needle and cut through the veins with electricity. The veins get destroyed as they are burnt. Lasers are now frequently used to remove spider veins. Your doctor will tell about the method that is suitable for you.
However changes in diet can help with the appearance of spider and varicose veins. There are several herbs that will keep blood thin and flowing smoothly. Also consider the nutrients required to keep veins and capillaries strong. Increasing your intake of monounsaturated and saturated fats can help. All cells replace themselves on a regular basis, including the cells in your circulatory system.
A diet heavy in polyunsaturated fats is inadequate for tissue repair and can often excerbate the problem with an increase of free radicals. Your body requires cholesterol and saturated fats for the building of strong cell walls. If you have been eating mostly seed oils, your body is not getting the right kind of fats. Consider switching to olive oil for salad dressings and coconut oil and butter for cooking. Also, the dietary enzyme bromelain can improve overall circulation by reducing the build up of fibrin along the walls of the blood vessels. It is very inexpensive, and good for circulation disorders of all kinds.
When cleaning your skin, use your wash cloth or loufah to massage the area around the broken veins first in a circular motion and then in a brushing motion upwards towards the bowels. This will improve circulation.
There are now many new commercial cosmetic procedures are available for the reduction of spider veins and varicose veins, however many of them are simply not justifiably affordable for the average person. Even if such procedures are used, natural, inexpensive at-home treatments can increase the success of expensive procedures and prevent a future repeat of symptoms.