CAN CREAMS ELIMINATE SPIDER VEINS?

Can Creams Eliminate Spider Veins?

We often receive inquiries if we have a product that can eliminate spider veins. Our short answer is “No! Creams will not work on spider veins.” At times, some will question our frank reply. Many people are being deceived into believing claims of “revolutionary cure in a jar” for unsightly spider veins.

These expensive creams are highly advertised and sold over the counter and in the internet. Some preparations have horse chestnut extract. Some have caffeine. Others have extracts of arnica and cypress. Most have vitamin K. And then there is the popular Hirudoid cream. The ingredients in these creams cannot penetrate the skin in sufficient concentrations to have any effect on the veins. None of these can fix the underlying problem of a stretched out vein.

Spider veins are small, superficial blood vessels that are highly visible on the surface of the skin. They may look like a group of veins radiating out from a central point; they may have a shape like the branches of a tree; or they may be thin, separate lines. They're most commonly found on the legs.  You can have spider veins if you're pregnant, overweight, inactive, or have a job that requires standing for long periods of time. In most cases, heredity plays a role. If your mother has them, there's a higher risk that you'll also have spider veins as you get older.

Sclerotherapy is the best
treatment option for
legs spider veins.

Prevention is possible by wearing compression stockings if you have to stand frequently for long periods of time, such as with nurses, teachers and retail sales personnel. Walking, weight loss, and elevating the legs at bedtime are also very beneficial.

If creams do not work, what are the treatment options? Sclerotherapy is the best treatment for spider veins on the legs and laser treatments are the best for treating spider veins on the face and nose. Sclerotherapy involves injecting the veins with a saline solution that causes the vein to collapse and disappear. The procedure is simple and relatively inexpensive. For very small spider veins on the face, laser therapy and IPL are the effective options. The high energy treatment causes the veins to shrink and gradually become invisible. Although needle free, there is still stinging sensation with the laser and IPL options.

While these clinic procedures for spider vein treatment are more expensive than those creams being peddled in the internet, the results are far more effective. The bottom line? Don't waste your money on creams that won't work.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on October 8, 2013. The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. Skin Smart aims to clarify facts and myths on skin care. Send your questions and comments to info@skinstation.ph.