Do spider vein creams work?

Vein creams seem like a painless and affordable way to treat spider veins – but do they really work or are you just wasting your money?

Cosmetic companies have long realized the demand for topical treatments and have come to the rescue with plenty of options for vein creams to lessen the unsightly appearance of spider veins.

The active ingredients in most spider vein creams are natural plant extracts. 

So here’s a list of five of the best natural active ingredients to watch out for when you select your vein cream:

Vitamin K – proven to repair veins and capillaries, and used extensively by doctors to reduce the appearance of bruises and spider veins.

Japanese Pagoda Tree – the extract has been used widely in Europe since the mid-1960s for treatment of various vein conditions including spider veins and has been shown to enhance vein stability, improve circulation and reduce inflammation.

Horse chestnut – used for many decades as a herbal preparation for spider and varicose veins. It has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve vein wall tone, mends tiny leaks in veins and capillaries, strengthen and improve the elasticity of vein walls.

Butcher’s Broom – Studies in the 1950s on Butcher’s Broom extract discovered that it can strengthen and tone veins, as well as lessen swelling and inflammation and relieve numbness, cramping, and the “heavy” sensation in the leg.

Grape seed extract – well known for its antioxidant properties, also shown to improve circulation and strengthen connective tissues.

There are an increasing number of studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of these natural ingredients – applied topically – in improving vein health and reducing spider veins.

The most often studied spider vein cream ingredient is horse chestnut. Because this plant contains blood thinning chemicals (aesculin and aescin) – horse chestnut is believed to reduce the pressure on the vein wall and vein valve.  It’s this pressure that causes the blockage and the unsightly blue or purple appearance of the spider vein.

In addition, butcher’s broom has been used in a famous study for it’s effect on spider veins.  Results were impressive with all the participants reporting lessened swelling and improved vein tone.  This seems to be due to the steroid like compounds in the plant which – like the horse chesnut – reduce pressure on the veins.

On the downside the butcher’s broom study only covered 20 participants so the quantity of the data is a little underwhelming to say the least!

You need to be sure that the spider vein cream you are choosing contains an ample amount of an active ingredient in order to be effective.

The higher the concentration of the active ingredient the better.  So – check the label.  Spider vein creams that list any of the key ingredients first will be the best to go for.

You will also want to check out the claims made by the manufacturer of whatever spider vein cream you choose.  They should be clear about what the cream can do and should not claim that it will completely eliminate your spider veins.

It is unlikely that a topical treatment on its own can get rid of spider veins. The best spider vein creams will reduce the appearance of spider veins and are will work bettr on mild to moderate cases.

Remember that you have to follow the instructions for the spider vein cream to the letter.  Many of the creams need regular twice daily application over a long period – say 6-8 weeks – before you will see results.  You have to be prepared to commit to this completely in order to see any improvement in your spider veins.

Of course, there are always companies that will try to sell you the ‘cure’ for spider veins.  To avoid spending money on spider vein creams that will not work, research the company to see if they can back up their claims with scientific research.

Look for manufacturers that supply testimonials from satisfied users or research providing reliable evidence of the effectiveness of their key ingredients on spider veins or varicose veins. 

Go for manufacturers that specialize in creams of this sort – it’s more likely that they will have put money and time into making the product effective.

Finally, look for product guarantees that only expire outside the treatment time required.  So – if you need to use the spider vein cream for 8 weeks – a guarantee that you can return the product and get your money back should cover the full treatment period – or very close to it.

Guarantees of this sort usually indicate a good manufacturer who is likely to be selling an effective spider vein treatment. Buy online for maximum protection through a reliable online store.

So if one spider vein cream doesn’t work for you – you can return it and try out another. At the worst all you’ll waste is your time.