Question: Are spider veins, those little red lines, another sign of aging? Can Vitamin K help?
Answer: Sometimes spider veins can become more prominent as we get older, but there are actually six main triggerers that can provoke them at any age.
1. Pregnancy– the increased blood volme that is part of pregnancy can put pressure on veins. In the legs it can lead to varicose veins, while on the face, little red lines can blossom.
2. Heavy drinking– alcohol tends to expand blodd vessels and large amounts of alcohol can expand them so much that they burst.
3. Constant exposure to heat– Are you a Top Chef ?Many kitchen pros have spider veins because they spend so much time over a hot stove.
4. High blood pressure– the increased pressure in the veins and arteries can be the driving force behind the appearance of spider veins.
5. Sun Exposure – The tiny veins in the skin are surrounded by collagen and as sun destroys collagen, the veins become more visable.
6. Trauma - A blow to the face or an overly enthusiastic massage can damage fragile vessels and trigger spider veins.
Some people are more prone to spider veins. Their veins can be closer to the surface or the skin can be thin and fine– and some can just have more blood vessels than others. As we grow older all our blood vessels become more fragile. One of the easiest ways to prevent their appearance is to use a sunscreen to avoid irritaing the skin and destroying the collagen.
Most treatments for spider veins involve some type of laser. On the easy end IPL ( Intense Pulsed Light) is a pseudo laser that kills the cells that are behind the growth of these pesky red lines. Depending on the number of strength of the lines, it can take 1-3 IPL treatments to clear them up. If a spider vein is particularly large, a true laser might be needed to zap them away.
One final thought:Vitamin K does have a role in blood clotting, but there is no evidence that a vitamin K enriched cream can erase red spider veins. Its just not that easy.
No Nonsense Beauty Blog
