Spider veins, the bane of many a blue eyed blonde’s existence, are often referred to as “broken capillaries”. Basically, they’re those red, squiggly lines that tend to hang out in clusters around the nose, across the cheekbones and down the legs. Cousin to the dreaded varicose vein, spider veins aren’t painful, but they are unsightly. Especially when they make your nose look like Rudolph. And winter, with its arctic chill and biting winds, only makes them worse. But it also happens to be the ideal season for treating them.
The only truly permanent treatment for spider veins is some kind of laser therapy. A technician or nurse holds a handheld laser device over your veins. The laser light enters the blood in the capillary which causes it to coagulate and then be re-abosorbed by the body. It typically takes anywhere from 3-6 sessions depending on the size and number of spider veins being treated. As someone who suffers from spider veins (thanks Dad), I can tell you that laser therapy does work. The side effects are minimal — redness, slight bruising and an increased sensitivity to the sun. The latter being the reason that winter is also the best time for treating spider veins since it’s typically the season where we spend the least amount of time outdoors.
The downside of laser therapy is that it can be expensive. Typically between $300-400 a session. However, on the plus side, laser therapy benefits the skin beyond just removing your spider veins. Depending on the type of laser used, it can also reduce your pore size, diminish brown spots, smooth out rough skin texture and increase collagen production. Which is the gold standard for making your face look younger.
If laser therapy is too much of a burden on the pocket book, which is understandable, then you can try to reduce the inflammation by treating your spider veins with a product that contains a soothing ingredient such as chamomile, calendula or white tea. Kiehl’s makes a delicious Calendula toner that won’t break the bank, but will make your skin feel fantastic.
