Disappearing Spider Veins?

I considered putting this in the health thread, but it seems more motivational. 

Ok, so I have had these ugly spider veins for years.  Alot of them around my knees and upper calves from crossing my legs all the time and a bunch on my thighs.

I have been doing this killer leg workout for the last 3 weeks.  So, Thursday I was lotioning up after my shower and I noticed that my spider veins were barely noticeable.  Some of them were just completely GONE!!  I am freaking out!   EVERYTHING I have ever heard or read about spider veins says the only way to get rid of them is to have some sort of surgery or treatment. 

So, has this happened to anyone else?  Have any of you ever heard of this?  I am sitting here checking out my legs and yup they are gone or fading!  It wasn't just a fluke cause they were gorged with blood from a workout. 

nods

damn spider veins...grumble grumble

They could very well be related to the toning, but for me they're definitely not weight related. I weigh less now than I have in years (I'm 29); I'm technically underweight. Mine are no more or less prevalent than they were 3 months ago when I weighed 25 lbs more. I don't exercise currently, but thomolli, I think you may have inspired me to start :)

Id love to hear more about your leg workouts, Thomolli.

My Mother and Grandmother both have extremely vericose veins, so Im always on the lookout for a good preventive measure.

As far as current treatments, Ive heard of laser treatments and saline injection, but both are rumored to be costly, take multiple visits, and never yield 100% results.

That's amazing to hear. Spider veins are not even an age-related thing- many of my relatives and I started getting them in our late teens. Although I do exercise which involves working out my legs a lot and I am also quite thin, every year I get more veins- spider, not varicose, which are quite different. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experienced the same effect as the OP.

I think they must have been something else if they've gone away. 

They were spider veins and they have been there for years.  I should add that I have been using the sauna religiously since January.  This may or may not have anything to do with it.  And the spider veins may have been disappearing for awhile and I just noticed because my new leg workout has me more interested in my legs. 

I really have no idea what has caused this miraculous "cure" all i know is a lot of them are gone and the rest are BARELY noticeable and seem to be fading.

mine went away with wt loss and eating better.

smoking,lack of circulation and lack of b vitamins can create them.



you may want to try some arnica gel from a health food store.
its really nice for the stinging ones.

I am so glad to here that this has happened for someone else.  I was kinda doubting my sanity.

Hg

hello, I'm FOURTEEN yes, 14 and i have spider veins. I'm not overweight and i play hockey in the winter soccer in the summer and jog everyday. They are so embarassing, does anybody have any advice for me???

That is a sign that your circulatory system started working properly. There are a few things you can do to avoid or make the spider veins go away and maybe you did some of these things:

- Wear Sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun and to limit spider veins on the face.
- Exercise regularly to improve your leg strength, circulation, and vein strength. Focus on exercises that work your legs, such as walking or running.
- Control your weight to avoid placing too much pressure on your legs.
- Do not cross your legs when sitting.
- Elevate your legs when resting as much as possible.
- Do not stand or sit for long periods of time. If you must stand for a long time, shift your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes. If you must sit for long periods of time, stand up and move around or take a short walk every 30 minutes.
 - Wear elastic support stockings and avoid tight clothing that constricts your waist, groin, or legs.

Varicose veins are the ones that you can't get rid of and in serious cases they require surgery.

dkn, thanks for that bit it really helps! I'm only 22 and I have spider veins, I do think that genetics play a factor since my mom and sister also have them! I hate them they are so ugly!

I've got spider veins bad - I also have varicose veins they are really 2 different types.  Spider veins are the veins you see that look like spider legs (hence the name)  these aren't the big veins that are blocked but the smaller surface areas and just look bad - treatment for spider viens is usually considered cosmetic and insurance won't pay for treatment which is usually laser.  The surgeon I bill for charges $200 a leg

Varicose veins are the ones that cause pain and discomfort swelling and can lead to many other complications.  These can be treated several different ways.  Usually they have to start with wearing those god awful ugly support hose- usually insurance won't pay for the surgery until the hose have been tried for several months - ok so now you want to surgically fix the problem.  depending on the degree of blockage you can try injections.  They inject a antisclerosing agent into the veins.  These usually require several injections.  I don't know what the pain is for that.  Once again the surgeon I bill for also now does whats called an EVLT  - Endovenous Laser Treatment - this is expensive - most insurances cover it but it isn't something you'd want done for minor Varicose veins.  Anyway this procedure involves a laser going into the vein and zapping away the blockage and stuff.  its done in the office and very minimal pain.  You do have to wear the stocking for a few months afterwards but the results are immediate and noticable.

I've got one vein on my right leg that when I stand up buldges like cellulite - this is a varicose vein that probably will require surgery someday.

The spider veins I'll live with LOL

I've got both varicose & spider veins.  The spider veins aren't too bad and are not that noticeable yet, but I've actually noticed MORE spider veins since I started working out a few months ago (walking/running & strength training).  I've got a few gnarly-looking varicose veins behind my right knee which popped out during my pregnancy and never went away.  Every year they just look worse and worse, so I refuse to wear shorts in public or  wear a short skirt without opaque tights underneath.  It sucks, because otherwise I've got really nice legs (if I do say so myself).  I told my husband that I want to get them lasered or injected or whatever I have to do to get rid of them, but he says that he thinks I'm extremely vain (pardon the pun) and that I shouldn't care so much about a couple of stupid veins.  Easy for HIM to say.  If anyone here has had the procedure done, please let me know how it went for you!

Thomolli,

What is the great leg workout you were doing?  I'd like to try it.  Will let you know if my spiders crawl away too.  i hope so!

My mother had saline injections a few years ago to get rid of her veins and was very pleased with the results. I am considering laser treatment some time in the next few years.

I'm only 20, and I've had varicose and spider veins since before I knew what they were! My mom has them too, so I agree that it's got to be hereditary. I hate them! I think mine have actually worsened through excercise, because now when I work out I can see them bulging out. . . ew. I've never tried to do anything about them; just sort of chalked it up to a fact of life. 

Hi

You post has been huge and only inspiration all over the net ..please please let me k now the leg work outs you were doing ....I am also walking on treadmill and cycling along with swimming daily and was wondering if it can really go. 

Your reply wld mean a lot as you will understand for nights staying awake wondering about sudden changes in your legs and reading it as non curable .. 

Do share .. 

Thanks