Spider veins are a common skin condition that affects millions of people all over the world. Although they’re mostly harmless, spider vein patients still rely on different vein treatments at home to restore their smooth, vein-free skin.
So can home devices eliminate spider veins? There are light therapy devices or skincare gadgets often used at home to treat several skin conditions including wrinkles and spider veins. Although these devices might be effective for some people, it’s still better to rely on other treatment methods recommended by professionals to see visible results quickly.
Eliminating Spider Veins at Home with Light Devices
The appearance of spider veins is one of the most common types of venous conditions. It causes clusters of red, purple, or blue veins to appear near the surface of the skin. Spider veins are similar to varicose veins and reticular veins, but these visible veins are much smaller and don’t swell.
Broken capillaries appear on the skin as spider veins when the valves inside the blood vessels become faulty, causing the blood to pool in the area and weaken the vein walls. Risk factors like trauma, body weight, aging, genes, sun damage, and hormonal imbalance might increase the chances of developing or worsening the symptoms of spider veins.
According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, more than 40% of women experience different venous conditions like varicose veins and spider veins. Although the appearance of these visible veins doesn’t always require extensive procedures, many patients still look for spider vein and varicose vein treatments for cosmetic reasons.
While there are many spider vein treatment options available, they’re not usually covered by insurance plans. Patients would rather try alternative therapy like light treatment for spider veins just to save a few hundred dollars spent on medical procedures and consultations with a health professional.
What Light Devices Are
Light therapies are used for treating several skin conditions. The light gadgets used in this spider vein treatment emit different wavelengths of light that help improve blood circulation. The laser is run over the areas with visible veins. This spider vein treatment usually requires multiple sessions to achieve the best results.
Light treatments are usually performed inside a doctor’s office or a beauty salon, but there are also at-home devices that work in the same way. Just make sure to follow the doctor’s instructions or the device’s manual to effectively erase the spider veins on the skin.
How They Work
Light therapies utilize the red light waves (about 650 nm) to eliminate the visible veins. The red light from the device heats the affected veins to improve blood flow in the area. The spider veins and varicose veins in the area eventually shrink and get absorbed after a few light treatments.
What most patients love about light therapy is that it also works as a skin tightening treatment. This helps minimize the chances of spider veins and other visible veins from reappearing on the skin’s surface.
What to Expect After Using Light Treatments
Light therapy is only one of the many spider vein treatment options available today. But like other cosmetic procedures, it’s important to learn more about what you should expect before buying a light therapy device and trying the treatment at home.
Results
Patients who tried this facial spider vein removal treatment experienced an improvement in the appearance of spider veins on their skin after a few sessions of using the device. In addition to erasing the visible veins, light therapy also offers the following benefits:
- Improved skin texture and even skin tone – The settings of the device may also be used for other skin issues like acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. The blue light from the device helps remove dirt and other debris from the skin that causes it to feel bumpy and dry.
- Lower risk of skin cancer – The light emitted by the device encourages the body’s immune system to destroy some of the cancer cells before they start growing and causing worse problems.
- Younger-looking skin – Light therapy rejuvenates the skin and helps the body produce healthier skin cells. This makes the skin look smoother and blemish-free.
Side Effects
Although light treatment has its fair share of benefits, patients should also be wary of the possible side effects of the procedure. Here are some of the common side effects caused by light treatment for spider veins:
- Pain and Discomfort – Although the light from the device won’t physically touch the patient’s skin the same way that needles and other tools would, patients may still feel pain or discomfort if the device is placed too close to the skin.
- Redness – Skin redness after the treatment is normal because it’s a sign that the procedure works the way it should. However, patients should contact a health professional if the redness remains on the skin after a few days.
- Increased Skin Sensitivity – The skin also becomes more sensitive than normal after the treatment because it’s repairing the damaged cells to achieve better results.
Best Home Devices for Spider Veins
If you’re looking for a spider vein and varicose vein treatment device to use at home but don’t know where to start, we’ve compiled three of the best ones used by many spider vein patients:
Rika LED Facial Massager
This small and cheap light treatment device has three different wavelengths of light energy that work for different types of skin issues. Patients may adjust the settings, but the device’s amber wavelength is the best one for eliminating spider veins on the nose, under the eyes, and other parts of the face.
Trophy Skin RejuvaliteMD Red Light Therapy Device
This spider vein removal machine has both amber and red wavelengths for eliminating facial spider veins. It also comes with an auto timer, so patients won’t need to worry about staying under the light therapy device too quickly or too long.
DPL-II Light Therapy Panel
This light therapy panel works for eliminating spider veins, wrinkles, and other skin blemishes without causing serious complications. The heat from the device might be uncomfortable at first, but it eventually becomes tolerable the more you use it.
Other Home Remedies for Spider Veins
Although light therapy helps reduce the appearance of spider veins, there are also other home remedies for these pesky veins like:
Compression Stockings
Compression stockings apply pressure to the legs. They reduce the appearance of spider veins by helping the veins and muscles move the blood flow back to the heart. These stockings also come in different types, which is why it’s important to consult a doctor first to find out which between mild, moderate, and firm compression stockings work best in eliminating spider veins without restricting the circulation of blood.Exercise
Leg exercises improve blood circulation in the area, which helps reduce the appearance of both varicose veins and spider veins. Low impact routines and exercises like yoga, cycling, swimming, and walking strengthen the calf and legs without adding too much strain on the muscles. Make sure to always warm-up before exercising to avoid accidents.
Plant Extracts
Some plant extracts have properties that help with different symptoms of venous insufficiency. For example, the horse chestnut extract helps reduce leg pain and heaviness often associated with spider veins and varicose veins. Butcher’s broom extract and sea pine extract also reduce swelling in the legs. These plant extracts may be topically applied as essential oils or placed in a diffuser for aromatherapy.
Flavonoids
Dietary changes and taking in additional flavonoids help treat spider veins and other venous conditions. Flavonoids improve blood circulation and lower blood pressure, which makes it easier for the spider veins to disappear. They’re usually found in garlic, cocoa, vegetables, and citrus fruits.
Massage
Massage therapy is a type of conservative treatment that brings several health benefits. This treatment also reduces the appearance of visible veins on the skin by improving blood flow and strengthening the muscles. But if you’re trying massage therapy at home for spider vein treatment, it’s better to learn from a professional massage therapist how to do it safely first to avoid pressing on the veins too hard and accidentally damaging them.
Learn more: Can Supplements Help with Spider Veins?
When Should You See a Doctor for Spider Veins?
Although it’s harmless most of the time, the appearance of varicose veins and spider veins on the skin might be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency that requires professional treatment. If you feel pain or discomfort in the affected area, then it’s better to visit the doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. It’s time to consult a medical professional about spider veins if:
- The veins have become swollen, tender, and warm (this is also a symptom of blood clots)
- There are rashes or sores on the legs or near the ankle
- One of the veins start to bleed for no reason
- The skin on the calf or ankle becomes discolored
- The pain or discomfort prevents you from performing daily tasks
Patients who want to remove spider veins for cosmetic purposes should also consult a doctor about the right treatment for them. Aside from helping them learn more about the different treatment options, doctors also determine the root cause of the patient’s spider veins. This allows them to prescribe a more appropriate procedure that prevents the reoccurrence of spider veins or varicose veins in the area.
Should You Get Your Spider Veins Treated by a Doctor?
Regardless of the patient’s reason to try light therapy for eliminating spider veins on the legs, face, and other parts of the body, it’s better to get the treatment done by a health professional instead of trying home devices. Here are a few reasons why it’s better to get light therapy by a board-certified doctor:
- Doctors have the right tools and techniques to get rid of the spider veins more quickly.
- Light therapy comes with mild to severe side effects which are minimized when the treatment is performed by a professional.
- Dermatologists help patients find different treatment options that might work better than light therapy in targeting the root cause of spider veins.
Medical Treatments for Spider Veins
Aside from light therapy, patients may also try other medical procedures for eliminating stubborn spider veins on their legs or face. Here are three of the most common spider vein treatments performed by board-certified dermatologists:
Laser Treatment
Laser technology is used for permanent hair removal and treating a wide variety of skin issues. Laser therapy for spider veins works by compressing the affected blood vessels until they’re completely closed. This allows the blood to flow through the other healthy veins and return to the heart. Laser spider vein removal treatments only utilize a single emitted wavelength.
Laser treatment works best on spider veins and small reticular veins than larger ones like varicose veins. This procedure is more commonly used for the diagnosis of varicose veins rather than a treatment. Laser treatments may also be used as a supplementary procedure for endovenous therapy, sclerotherapy, and other spider vein treatments.
Sclerotherapy
This procedure is the most common way to treat different venous conditions including varicose veins and spider veins. It alleviates pain caused by the broken veins and avoids possible complications like vein ulcers and breakage.
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution called sclerosant (saline injections) into the affected vein to scar it and redirect the blood flow to other healthier veins. The damaged veins on legs and other parts eventually disappear on the surface of the skin as they’re absorbed by the body.
VeinGogh
This innovative treatment eliminates the spider veins on the skin using a technology called the Ohmic Thermolysis System. VeinGogh uses micro-bursts of heat to collapse the damaged veins without causing harm to the surrounding blood vessels and tissues. This makes the treatment effective for removing the spider veins on sensitive areas like the face.
Eliminate Spider Veins Safely with Treatments by Vein Center Doctor
Looking for a clinic for your first vein treatment? Vein Center Doctor is a trusted vein center that helps patients near Ardsley, NY and Clifton, NJ with their medical and cosmetic vein problems. We offer painless and effective vein treatments to help patients bring back their clear, vein-free skin without the need for invasive surgical procedures.
Find out which spider vein treatment works best for you by consulting with our experts here at Vein Center Doctor today. Book an appointment by calling us or visiting us online.
