Dermatologists Say This One Trick Is A Surefire Way To Treat Visible Leg Veins

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As a child, I'd always noticed the veins on my mom's legs.
In the summertime, when she'd wear shorts or sit with her feet up on the couch, I'd see the web of tiny red and purple lines weaving across her calves and ankles. They were just part of her legs, like freckles or tan lines, but they stuck with me.
And by the time I hit my mid twenties, I started spotting those same patterns on my own body. The web-like marks, which I later learned are called spider veins, are incredibly common, especially in women. While harmless, they can be bothersome to some, but acting early can prevent and minimize their appearance significantly. 'The earlier you start intervention, the better,' says Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. 'If you recognize that visible veins run in your family, and you see early signs of on your own legs, be diligent about wearing compression stockings regularly.'
Meet the experts: Rachel Nazarian, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Marisa Garshick, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in NYC. Todd Harris Wolf is a celebrity and editorial makeup artist in New York City.
But stockings are just the beginning: If you're in the early stages of seeing spider veins or wondering what to do about the larger, bumpier kind (those are called varicose veins), I talked to doctors about what causes them, how to treat them, and how to prevent them. Plus, find out what to do when you want a quick (read: instant) fix.
Most often, our veins go undetected underneath the skin, shuttling nutrient-rich blood from our heart to our other organs. When they become damaged, they start showing up—usually on the legs, but they can also appear on the face. Both spider and varicose veins are essentially damaged blood vessels. Spider veins are broken capillaries (so they're not technically veins) that can look red, blue, or purple.
Varicose veins are larger, bulging veins that may appear twisted or raised, and oftentimes symptoms like aching or swelling can accompany their appearance. While spider veins are mostly cosmetic, varicose veins can sometimes point to a more serious issue, such as chronic venous insufficiency (when your leg veins can't send blood to your heart).
There's a strong genetic component—thanks, Mom—when it comes to developing spider or varicose veins. So, if your relatives had them, chances are you might too. But lifestyle and environmental factors can also play a role. Sitting or standing for long hours, pregnancy, and even just the normal aging process can all raise your risk for spider or varicose veins.
Hormonal fluctuations (like those during pregnancy or menopause) can increase your risk as well. Other overlooked causes include trauma or injury and even 'certain types of exercise that put extra pressure on the legs, such as heavy weightlifting,' says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC.
There are a few different ways you can zap leg veins away, and they're usually done at a dermatologist's office. These treatments offer permanent results, but 'occasionally new veins can form nearby or in other areas,' Dr. Nazarian says.
Lasers are the go-to for small, superficial spider veins. Both Drs. Nazarian and Garshick recommend Nd:YAG lasers for leg veins. These lasers emit a specific wavelength of light that targets the blood in the vein. 'The blood absorbs the energy from the laser, heating up, which then causes the veins to either collapse and scar down or to rupture and break,' Dr. Nazarian says.
The treatment can be very quick, with minimal discomfort, and the small veins tend to respond well. However, each vein has to be treated individually, which can be tedious, and there's a risk of your skin staining brown, which may linger for months or longer. I visited Dr. Nazarian's New York City office to try the YAG laser on a cluster of spider veins around my ankle and a couple of others behind my knee and on my shin. While it wasn't exactly a spa day, the process was quicker and less painful than I expected. The zap feels like a rubber band snap, and there's a bit of redness afterward, but the veins disappeared in real time. There's no downtime with laser, and Dr. Nazarian said to wait about four weeks to see if I noticed any tell-tale skin staining and if I need another round to fully get rid of the veins.
For medium to larger spider veins or clusters, sclerotherapy tends to be more effective. 'Sclerotherapy involves injecting a sclerosant—either a liquid or foam—into the vein,' which causes it to shut down and fade over time, Dr. Garshick says. After injecting, your dermatologist may massage the area and monitor you for a bit after. Most people have to wear compression socks for up to 3 weeks after getting treated with sclerotherapy, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).
When it comes to choosing between sclerotherapy and laser to treat veins, it's important to factor in the number, location, and exact size of the veins. Larger veins or clusters do better with injections, while tiny telangiectasias (spider veins) may respond to YAG laser, Dr. Nazarian says.
For larger varicose veins or those with underlying venous insufficiency, endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) may be the way to go. 'EVLT is reserved for larger varicose veins stemming from underlying venous insufficiency,' Dr. Garshick says. This is a more invasive procedure that requires making a small incision under local anesthesia to allow a thin laser fiber to seal off affected veins, redirected blood flow to other healthier veins.
Laser or sclerotherapy sessions can range from $300 to $1,000, depending on the extent of treatment. And while cosmetic cases are typically not covered by insurance, 'in some cases, if the veins are causing pain or swelling, treatments may be covered,' Dr. Garshick says.
While veins treated by one of the above procedures typically don't come back, they're a chronic conditioner and new ones can form over time, Dr. Nazarian says. That makes it extra important to do what you can to prevent them from forming in the first place. And if you're genetically prone to visible veins: 'The earlier you start intervention, the better,' Dr. Nazarian says.
Wear compression stockings, especially if you stand or sit for long periods. (Both Dr. Nazarian and Dr. Garshick recommend wearing them regularly to help prevent blood pooling in the legs.)
Elevate your legs when resting.
Avoid prolonged sitting or crossing your legs.
Exercise regularly to improve circulation.
Protect your legs from injury or trauma.
Maintain a healthy weight.$22.37 at amazon.com
If you've spotted drugstore products that promise vein-erasing magic, our experts say not to expect miracles—they're mostly just marketing. 'Topical creams can't reach nearly deep enough to collapse the veins and they don't have enough power to fight blood pressure within the vessels,' Dr. Nazarian says.
But there is one product that can make a major difference in the appearance of visible veins: makeup. Certain products can temporarily camouflage spider and varicose veins when you want a bit of an airbrushed finish. Celebrity makeup artist Todd Harris Wolf says to look for body makeup with a 'film former,' which means it's self-setting and won't transfer to clothing or furniture. Typically, these products will be labeled as 'transfer-proof,' 'water-proof,' or 'sweat-resistant.' In 12 adaptable and buildable shades, this high-performance body foundation can fade even the most visible of veins. It's forgiving finish won't draw attention to textured skin and it contains SPF 25 to prevent further damage.
$40.00 at amazon.comThis product has more of an illuminating finish (so not the best option for varicose veins) but offers incredible coverage, making it ideal for very dark and prominent spider veins. It's sweat-, water-, and transfer-proof for twenty-four hours and comes in 7 buildable shades.
$49.00 at amazon.comFor veins that require coverage but not major camouflage, this product delivers handily. It has the most natural-looking finish, says Harris Wolf, and is buildable so you can customize how it works on your skin. SPF 15 is the icing on top.
$52.00 at amazon.com
These products should be applied to clean, dry skin that hasn't been moisturized with lotions or oils, which can degrade the formula and cause it to break down. To apply, Harris Wolf likes to use a large, dense body brush like the Anisa Pinnacle Face & Brush to buff the product in for a seamless finish. 'This imparts a overall streak-free look, but you can also use your fingers to dab makeup directly onto more prominent veins. Wait about 15 minutes for the makeup to fully set and then blot any excess with a tissue,' he says. For bulging veins that create a textured look on skin, Harris Wolf says it's important to use a matte-finish product rather than one with a more radiant or glowing finish, which will only exacerbate their appearance.
So, you may not be able to avoid turning into your mother entirely, but you can certainly keep your legs in the best possible shape. And that's worthy of a high kick.
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