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How to Improve the Look of Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
Help reduce noticeable spider and varicose veins — and possibly prevent new ones — with these activities and exercises
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Mar 31, 2010
Jul 24, 2024
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Help reduce noticeable spider and varicose veins — and possibly prevent new ones — with these activities and exercises
Veins are blood vessels that are all over your body. They collect blood that doesn’t have a lot of oxygen in it and return it to your heart. The smaller of these veins, often called spider veins, aren’t actually veins at all. They’re damaged blood vessels that can are red and blue and appear on your face and legs — and they’re very common. In fact, 1 in 2 women and people assigned female at birth have them.
Spider veins are usually harmless (unless you have some other health conditions, in which case you should talk to your healthcare provider). But you might not like the way they look. Bulging, larger varicose veins are found mostly on the legs. Pregnancy, menopause, excess weight, standing or sitting too much, taking birth control pills, smoking and family history can all contribute to the development of unsightly — and potentially unhealthy — leg veins.
Most of the time, varicose veins are just a cosmetic concern, but if you have swollen, reddened or warm areas near your leg veins, it’s important to have them checked out by your healthcare provider. And if you think you might have a circulation problem, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider, too.
In the case of purely aesthetic concerns about your veins, you may be able to improve their look and possibly prevent new spider or varicose veins with these activities and exercises: