a personification of a peeled orange, looking at a laptop with varicose veins remedies around her head like aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, and salt

With perceived advantages such as holistic health, ingredient transparency, and environmental consciousness, many turn to DIY remedies to address vein concerns. People often experiment with foods, supplements, and vitamins to combat the appearance and discomfort of varicose veins. But this begs the question: Do these home remedies for varicose veins actually work? 

 

The answer is yes and no. DIY varicose vein remedies can help soothe symptoms like inflammation and discomfort, but they are not guaranteed cure. Here, we dive into the pros and cons of popular varicose vein home remedies.

 

But First—Are Varicose Vein Home Remedies Safe?

 

Unfortunately, there isn’t a solid yes or no answer to this question. We believe in the power of vein treatments like sclerotherapy and ambulatory phlebectomy because they are a surefire way to permanently remove your varicose veins. But, we understand the temptation to reach for ingredients in your kitchen pantry. 

 

When thoughtfully used, some home solutions can indeed soothe the skin. But we urge you to err on the side of caution with DIY treatments, as they could harm your skin. That said, here are some ingredients commonly used in their raw form to safely address varicose veins.

 

Olive Oil

 

Pros: The decadent texture of olive oil is known to soothe dry, itchy skin. It also helps protect against the oxidative stressors that aggravate varicose veins. If you massage it onto your skin, you can stimulate circulation and ease swelling in the affected areas.


Cons: While olive oil might offer temporary relief from symptoms like dry skin, it won’t provide a cure for varicose veins. Additionally, its oily consistency can be a bit messy and cumbersome to handle so use sparingly.

 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Pros: Apple cider vinegar (ACV) improves blood flow and circulation. It’s also thought to cleanse the body of accumulated toxins. If you’d like to try apple cider vinegar, apply the undiluted version to the varicose veins and massage it into the skin twice daily.

 

Cons: While it’s unlikely the use of ACV for varicose veins is harmful, there is little research and proof to support that this treatment is successful.

Peppermint Oil

 

Pros: Peppermint oil has cooling and soothing properties. It helps reduce pain and discomfort caused by poor blood circulation and can reduce inflammation. Warm the oil in your hands and massage the area affected by varicose veins.

 

Cons: You may still experience underlying health complications related to varicose veins even after using peppermint oil.

Ginger

 

Pros: Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the inflammation and swelling from varicose veins. It also has blood-thinning properties that can enhance circulation and decrease blood pooling. Furthermore, ginger can aid in dissolving fibrin in blood vessels, a task that individuals with varicose veins often struggle with.

 

Cons: While ginger boasts numerous general health benefits, there isn’t much evidence to prove its direct effectiveness on varicose veins. Furthermore, the blood-thinning properties of ginger can interact badly with certain medications, potentially increasing the risk of bleeding. Make sure to ask your doctor if ginger will work well with your current prescriptions before using it.

Epsom Salt

Pros: Epsom salt may help improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and decrease varicose vein size. It can also improve magnesium deficiencies in the body which are important for tissue development within the veins. Dissolve the salts in warm bath water and soak the affected areas.

 

Cons: Epsom salt is great for soothing the discomfort and inflammation caused by your varicose veins, but it will not make them go away.

Castor Oil

Pros: Rich in fatty and ricinoleic acids, castor oil is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties that can ease swollen veins and alleviate pain. Massaging castor oil into the areas affected by varicose veins can promote blood circulation, reduce blood pooling, and moisturize dry skin.

Cons: Castor oil is one of those substances whose effectiveness on varicose veins is largely based on anecdotal evidence. Though its thick consistency may feel luxurious and comforting on the skin, it doesn’t address the root cause of varicose veins.

Aloe Vera

Pros: Aloe Vera can have many benefits on varicose veins. The gel can relieve itchiness, which is a problem in patients with varicose veins. It can also reduce swelling and reduce pain. When massaged into the skin, aloe vera may improve blood circulation.

 

Cons: Aloe Vera can ease irritation and discomfort caused by varicose veins but it’s only temporary. For a permanent solution, you need to seek medical vein treatment.

Graphic of things you can do to treat your varicose veins.Blending DIY Vein Solutions with Lifestyle Shifts

 

The vein remedies we’ve discussed today can provide relief from the bothersome symptoms of varicose veins, but they won’t offer a cure. True improvement in the function and appearance of your veins comes from within. Committing to lifestyle changes is a more effective method for preventing further varicose vein issues.

 

Combine your vein care remedies with the following lifestyle adjustments:

 

  • Don’t sit or stand for long periods. If your work requires it, take breaks every 30 minutes. Change your position, walk around, stretch, or simply stand up. Avoid remaining in the same position for too long.
  • Don’t sit with crossed legs or crossed ankles.
  • Stay hydrated throughout the day.
  • Keep your legs elevated even when you lie down or sleep. Stack a few pillows to rest your feet on.
  • Engage in regular cardiovascular exercises and strength training, as they are beneficial for your vein health. Walking also helps improve your blood circulation.
  • Losing weight is crucial, as being overweight is one of the primary causes of varicose veins.

Eat a balanced diet, which includes more fiber in your meals. Fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants are good for you and your blood circulation.

 

Skip the Trial & Error and Opt for Vein Treatment

 

It’s totally understandable to lean towards simpler solutions over medical treatments. Opting for home remedies for varicose veins does sound enticing. But going that route alone can be a bit of a gamble. Your best bet? Making healthy lifestyle changes and teaming up with a certified vein specialist. Specialists will examine your veins, listen to your concerns, and offer a treatment that’s tailored just for you. This approach is proven to provide visible, long-lasting results.

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Are you putting off vein treatment because you think it will take too long and recovery will be too time consuming? Worried you won’t be able to afford time off from work and other life responsibilities?

 

Doctor performing vein treatment on patient

Even in health-threatening situations, people feel as though their bustling schedules don’t allow the time it’ll take to get a procedure done. But despite what you may think, the vein treatment process has been streamlined to work around your mega-busy life. In fact, many procedures can be done and recovered from in less than a day.

 

Here we will break down how long each vein treatment takes and what the recovery process will be like. Once you learn how easy and convenient these procedures are, you’ll be ready to book your first appointment!

 

The Truth About Vein Treatments: Duration and Recovery Time

 

We’re pretty sure no one likes painful, grueling, and excessively lengthy treatments that leave us feeling exhausted and totally unmotivated. So you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that all the treatments we provide at Delaware Advanced Vein Center are exceptionally quick and require little to no recovery time. Here’s what you can expect when you get any of the following treatments at our clinic.

 

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

 

Ambulatory phlebectomy is one of the most minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins. During the process, a teeny-tiny needle is used to make a small incision near your enlarged vein. A hook is then used to graciously remove the vein from your skin.

 

The procedure usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour depending on how many veins are being treated. Afterward, the incision area is wrapped in a bandage and patients can feel free to live their lives as they please. We do recommend you take it easy until you have your post-treatment follow-up two days later. Skydiving, marathon running, or extreme sports playing of any sort should be avoided momentarily.

 

Ideally, you would only need to have one ambulatory phlebectomy to rid yourself of varicose veins for life. But some people may need multiple rounds. This can depend on the size and number of varicose veins you want to treat. You can have multiple veins worked on at once, but this lengthens the duration of the procedure. If you have lots of varicose veins to fix and no more than an hour to do it, you may want to make an additional appointment.

 

You’ll be relieved to know that the recovery period for an ambulatory phlebectomy is pretty much nonexistent. Especially compared to surgeries that require you to be off your feet for weeks. You might start to miss your varicose veins a bit, but you’ll be too busy showing off your newly beautified legs!

 

Sclerotherapy

 

Sclerotherapy is a remarkably quick vein treatment used to diminish the look of spider veins. It differs from other venous treatments as it uses a snazzy medical solution called sclerosant to collapse the vein within your body. This forces the lining of your skin to stick together and your body to absorb the vein. Eventually, the itsy bitsy spider vein will cease to exist.

 

You may need multiple rounds of sclerotherapy in order to eliminate your spider veins once and for all. This is reliant upon the severity of your spider veins as well as your age and overall health. In general, spider veins respond to sclerotherapy in three to six weeks, and larger veins respond in three to four months.

 

If you find yourself sensitive to treatments of any kind, even ones as painless and easy as sclerotherapy, it may be best to spread treatments out over several weeks. Luckily, each session of sclerotherapy is very quick. It usually takes 10 to 30 minutes—so short your boss won’t know you left work.

 

There’s no recovery period for sclerotherapy. Though you may feel slightly sore around the incision area, it’s right back to the grind after the treatment is done. Once again, a procedure made to fit our footloose and fancy-free lives.

 

Venous Ablation

 

Venous ablation is a method used to treat varicose veins and venous insufficiency. During the procedure, a small catheter is inserted into the affected vein. It then emits radio-frequency heat to disrupt the structure of your vein walls. This causes the vein to collapse and ultimately absorb into your body.

 

Venous ablation is less of a cosmetic procedure and more for the sake of relieving discomfort caused by your vein condition. It’s often used in patients experiencing significant pain or swelling from varicose veins or venous insufficiency. Each round of the procedure only takes 45 minutes. But like the other vein treatments we’ve discussed, depending on how intense your vein condition is, you may need multiple rounds over the course of weeks to be completely effective. Just think of it as more quality time spent with your vein specialist.

 

The recovery period for venous ablation is slightly more involved as post-treatment bruising and discomfort may last a few days. But considering how much it can reduce the pain you’ve endured from your vein condition, we swear it’ll be worth your time.

 

Venous Ultrasound

 

Venous ultrasounds are a necessary part of identifying any turmoil going on within your veins. They are taken before treatments to detect venous insufficiency. During the ultrasound, a probe is used to measure your blood flow and see if it’s traveling in the opposite direction. This all-powerful procedure also measures the size of your veins and can even detect deep vein thrombosis.

 

The good news for those nervous about vein treatments is that venous ultrasounds are completely non-invasive. They don’t hurt a bit, they don’t require needles or incisions, and they allow you to return to work right away. Most importantly, they give you the answers you need to make important decisions about your future vein treatments. How efficient!

What’s the Best Time of Year for Vein Treatments?

 

There’s never a wrong time to schedule vein treatments, but there are definitely more strategic times of the year for having them done. Isn’t one of the biggest inspirations for ridding your skin of spider and varicose veins to have fun in the summer sun while wearing your favorite swim trunks or sundresses? It may be hard to confidently do that with a big bandage on your legs. Fall is thus the prime time for starting vein treatment, giving your plenty of time to recover before warm weather rolls around again. Especially if your varicose or spider veins are abundant and you suspect you’ll need multiple rounds of treatment.

 

Vein specialists say it’s best to stay out of the sun for the first couple of weeks after your treatment. That’s because sun exposure can cause skin discoloration in the area where your procedure was done. Your post-treatment bandages and compression socks will go perfectly with all your autumnal layers. And cooler temperatures make going out for a breezy walk in the leaves much more enjoyable. Getting lots of steps in keeps your blood circulating, which is an absolute must for a full and healthy recovery.

 

Make Time for a Vein Treatment

 

Time can be a barrier to getting procedures of any kind. But when it comes to sclerotherapy, venous ablation, ambulatory phlebectomy, or venous ultrasounds, the sacrifices are truly minuscule.

All of these procedures take very little time and involve little to no recovery time. These highly efficient treatments are made to disrupt your life as little as possible. Plus our free virtual vein consultations only take 30 minutes. You now have one less excuse for putting off vein treatment—contact us today!

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Illustration of hands with bulging veins.

Our blood moves through the body via blood vessels with the goal of reaching our heart. But when blood has a hard time being transported, it can pool up in our veins. This can manifest itself as bulging in legs, hands, and feet. These swollen veins can look unappealing and really show off our age.

 

The good news is most bulging veins aren’t actually a sign of poor health. But there are instances where they may arise from an underlying disease. Whatever the cause or effect, let’s discuss everything you need to know about bulging veins.

 

8 Common Causes of Bulging Veins 

 

Bulging veins can be identified by their rope-like shape and bluish-green tone. While they’re not an inherent health threat, none of us want to have them on our skin. So why are my veins popping out? Here are some of the reasons why they appear:

 

  • Aging: As we age, our skin gets thinner and less elastic, making our blood vessels more visible. While not particularly desirable, it’s all part of the aging process.
  • Genetics: Having family members with bulging veins increases your chances of getting them.
  • Hot Weather: Heat can make veins more prominent and enlarged. Because they have to work harder in high temperatures, veins become more visible.
  • Hormone Imbalance: Pregnancy or menopause can lead to a hormone imbalance. One of the symptoms is bulging veins. Pregnancy may also put pressure on veins, making it harder for blood flow to get back to the heart.
  • Exercise: Heavy lifting for long periods of time can make blood flow increase. The muscles harden, causing more visible blood vessels. Over-stretching can also play a role in making veins pop out.
  • Blood Clots: Also known as thrombophlebitis, this condition can cause swollen veins that feel tough.
  • Body Fat Loss: Our skin has a layer of fat that serves as an insulator. When you lose weight, that layer thins, making veins more visible.
  • Health Conditions: Underlying heart problems can cause a chronic increase in blood pressure. This weakens the veins and can cause popping.

 

The causes of bulging veins differ from that of varicose veins. Varicose veins are often caused by damaged or weakened valves. Not all bulging veins are varicose veins, deeming them generally harmless. But if they cause pain and discomfort, it may be an underlying problem from untreated varicose veins. Let’s explain.

 

Are Bulging Veins the Same as Varicose Veins?

 

There are a few ways to tell the difference between a regular bulging vein and varicose veins. The first is where the vein is located. Bulging veins can pop up in various places. But varicose veins usually show up on your legs. This is where blood has to work the hardest to travel back to your heart.

 

Though similar in appearance, varicose and bulging veins have a slightly different look to them. They both have a rope-like structure. But varicose veins are generally larger and more twisted. Bulging veins are smaller with a green-blue hue. Varicose veins have a more purple-blue color.

 

Symptoms can help you identify whether you’re dealing with bulging or varicose veins. Bulging veins can be purely aesthetic and may have no real symptoms. Varicose veins; however, come with pain, discomfort, swelling, changes in skin texture, and even ulcers.

 

Can Bulging Veins Go Away?

 

Usually, bulging veins will go away on their own. Especially ones that are caused by exercise or hot weather. But if popping veins run in your family or come from underlying conditions, you may need treatment to help them go away. Here are some options:

 

  • Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs can help decrease the swelling of bulging veins.
  • Sclerotherapy injects a chemical solution into targeted veins and makes them close.
  • Ambulatory phlebectomy is the removal of the targeted veins via small incisions. While you’re under general anesthesia, your doctor will make an incision, tie off the vein, and remove it. The blood that used to run in the vein is automatically shifted and the closed vein eventually fades away.

 

What Can You Do To Prevent Bulging Veins From Forming?

 

As we’ve learned, bulging veins often have genetic causes. So while we can’t always stop them from forming, there are things we can do to lessen the appearance of bulging veins or prevent new ones from popping up.

 

Improve Your Heart Rate, Reduce Your Weight

 

Routine exercise improves circulation, prevents blood from pooling in veins, and helps with weight loss. Being overweight puts extra pressure on your veins. This increases your chances of developing bulging veins. So maintaining a healthy diet and workout routine is an advantageous step in treating or preventing bulging veins.

 

Sport a Pro-Vein Wardrobe

 

Wearing tight clothing could actually be the cause of your vein problems. Overly fitted garments restrain blood flow, which can then cause bulging veins to form. Sporting a loose-fitting, free-flowing wardrobe can help. And to further reduce your risk, compression socks can even out the pressure on your veins and prevent blood pooling.

 

Switch up Your Position

 

Refrain from standing, sitting, or crossing your legs for extended periods of time. Doing so can cause blood to pool in your veins. Elevating your legs to a position higher than your heart can also improve blood flow. Taking periodic breaks and stretching are both helpful ways to prevent and lessen bulging veins.

 

Trade Bad Habits for Healthy Ones

 

We all know that smoking is bad for us. It damages our blood vessels and restricts blood flow. This enlarges your veins and can cause them to bulge out. If you don’t want this to happen, stop smoking and start drinking—water that is. Getting lots of hydration keeps the blood flowing. This reduces pressure on your veins and can even help with skin elasticity.

 

When All Else Fails, Bulging Veins Can Be Fixed

 

Bulging veins are not a serious medical issue for the majority of people. But if you’re concerned that your popping veins are something serious (or if you just don’t like the way they look) make an appointment with a vein doctor.

 

If there’s a serious problem with your veins, a doctor can recommend treatment. And if you want them removed for cosmetic purposes, they can also make a suggestion for the best procedure. If bulging veins are a sign of a more serious condition, your doctor will offer specific medical treatments.

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