Do Varicose Vein Creams Work?

If you want to improve the appearance of bulging veins on your legs, you may be wondering if varicose vein creams work.  After all, they promise a non-invasive solution to these unsightly and painful veins. But can they deliver relief? Or address the underlying cause of your condition? Let's take a closer look!

Understanding Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are a sign of chronic vein disease. They are veins that become visible on the surface of your skin, appearing to bulge or twist. And they form when something goes wrong in your veins, causing blood to pool and stretching them out to the new, twisted position.

Often, the blood begins to pool when valves in your vein fail, causing venous reflux. (That's when blood can no longer fight gravity and flow up from your legs to your heart.) Usually, valve failure is a result of pressure on your veins. And that pressure can come from many different sources, including a stationary lifestyle, standing or sitting for too long, carrying extra weight or carrying a baby.

Varicose veins are more than just a cosmetic concern. Left untreated, they will get worse. And that can cause you to develop painful, serious complications. That's why it's important to seek treatment for your varicose veins. But not every treatment is equally effective.

Varicose Vein Creams: Do They Work?

You may have heard about varicose veins creams, topical products that you can apply to the skin above your affected veins. They come in a range of brands and price points, usually containing a blend of vitamins, herbs and moisturizing ingredients.

Now, when you moisturize and soothe your skin with this ingredient mix, your skin may look firmer and healthier. In turn, your varicose veins may improve slightly in appearance. But the creams can't do anything to address the underlying cause of your varicose veins. So the results will be temporary at best, meaning your condition will worsen unless you seek other treatment options.

Some of these creams also promise that they can help prevent varicose veins from forming. Again, that's not true. While they can keep your skin smooth on the surface thanks to proper hydration, they can never address what's going on beneath your skin, inside your veins.

Preventing Varicose Veins

While varicose vein creams can't prevent you from developing vein disease, there are measures you can take to protect your circulatory health. Try to follow a vein-healthy diet, both to maintain your ideal weight and to help boost circulation naturally. Look to get regular, moderate exercise: walking, swimming and bicycling are all wonderful options. Finally, if you know that you're at risk for varicose veins, ask us about compression stockings. These special types of socks come in different pressure levels, and can help boost your circulation and prevent varicose veins from forming, or keep existing troubled veins from getting worse.

Treating Varicose Veins in Houston, TX

While varicose vein creams won't resolve your vein disease, there are many minimally invasive treatment options for you to explore. From compression therapy to radiofrequency ablation, our offices in Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, Clear Lake and The Woodlands offer many vein treatments that are scientifically proven to address the appearance and underlying cause of varicose veins. Ready to find varicose vein relief that lasts? Forget the varicose vein creams and schedule a consultation with our team to find an option that will work for you!