Varicose veins are essentially swollen veins. When veins cannot keep up with the pressure placed on them, blood can pool inside making them enlarged and twisted just beneath the surface of the skin. It generally affects the legs but can occur anywhere in the body. According to statistics, varicose veins occur in approximately one fifth of the adult population, more frequently in females than males. In order to better understand this condition, there are a few simple questions that need to be answered. What are the causes and risk factors one should look out for in order to potentially avoid varicose veins? How can you alleviate the symptoms and can it be cured? Read on to discover all you need to know.
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What Exactly Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins, sometimes called spider veins based on a web-like appearance, are enlarged veins. This problem arises from venous insufficiency, meaning that the veins fail to efficiently pump blood back to the heart. Essentially, the root of varicose veins stems from poor circulation. When valves in the veins fail, blood pools inside and causes them to swell and twist. These veins may appear to bulge through the skin and be blue or purplish in color.
Varicose veins are most often not more than a cosmetic concern though in some cases they may cause pain and should then be examined by a medical professional and treated accordingly to prevent further complications.
What Are The Risk Factors For Varicose Veins?
There are several factors that are linked to the development of various veins. Some risk factors are manageable, like smoking, inactivity, or obesity. On the other hand, some factors are inevitable. For example, genetics are a risk factor as this condition may be hereditary. Secondly, because women are almost twice as likely as men to develop “spider veins”, being a woman is considered a risk factor. Additionally, pregnancy may increase the risk. These two factors are likely related as pregnancy, which only occurs in women, can cause strain on the blood vessels when they need to keep the blood flow contrary to gravity. Likewise, leg injuries may stress the blood vessels and allow blood to pool in and distort veins.
Symptoms Of Varicose Veins
Varicose veins can generally be identified by sight but in some cases may be accompanied by symptoms that can be felt. Varicose veins may be accompanied by:
- Rashes
- Itching
- Burning
- Throbbing
- Inflammation
- The sensation of heavy legs
If varicose veins are causing you pain, be sure to consult with a medical doctor as this condition can escalate to edema or ulcers.
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How Can You Manage, Relieve & Prevent Varicose Veins?
There are several different ways varicose veins can be managed from lifestyle changes to taking daily nutritional supplements. These methods can have a significant positive impact and include:
- Exercising Regularly – exercise promotes circulation which helps prevent blood from pooling in the damaged veins.
- Spending Less Time Sitting Or Standing – movement is beneficial for keeping blood moving throughout the body.
- Losing Weight – obesity puts extra pressure on the blood vessels, especially in the lower body.
- Eating A Healthier Diet – diets rich in antioxidants and fiber with sufficient potassium can benefit circulation and help prevent stress on the blood vessels.
- Wearing Compression Socks Or Stockings – these help the blood to flow up from the legs and reduce strain on blood vessels.
- Sleeping In The Right Position – pregnant women should sleep on left side for improved circulation
- Sclerotherapy, Radiofrequency Ablation, Or Endovenous Ablation – various procedures that block off or destroy the vein so that blood will be rerouted and the vein broken down and reabsorbed.
- Applying Topical Cream – creams may be used to reduce itching or discomfort as well as to improve skin tone to fade the varicose or spider veins from visibility. Creams can be used to compliment treatments for increased comfort.
- Nutritional Health Supplements – many times supplements are used to boost the effects of lifestyle and diet changes by filling in nutritional deficiencies and giving the body what it needs to strengthen blood vessels – see our top recommended brands.
Ingredients An Effective Varicose Vein Supplement Must Contain
Research helps guide the way in which we understand the key ingredients which garner positive results for preventing varicose veins. A top-quality supplement should contain the following ingredients to ensure you are giving your body the best nutrition to help prevent pressure from causing veins to bloat and twist in on themselves.
- Horse Chestnut – its anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling properties increase vein elasticity and inhibit certain enzymes that damage the capillary walls.
- Diosmin & Hesperidin – these plant-derived chemicals reduce swelling and help restore vein function.
- Witch Hazel – strengthens blood vessels and reduces swelling.
- Cayenne – helps with pain relief, blood circulation, and swollen veins.
- Butcher’s Broom – this root is taken for improving circulation, itchiness, swelling, and discomfort. It may cause blood vessels to constrict which helps blood move through without pooling in the veins.
- Bilberry – this fruit contains flavonoids and tannins which help reduce swelling, lower blood sugar, and lower cholesterol which can positively affect the cardiovascular system.
- Rutin – possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Our Top 5 Favorite Varicose Relief Supplements For Reducing and Preventing Varicose Veins:
#1
VariDerm
What Do We Like?
- Contains Butcher’s Broom, Witch Hazel, Diosmin and Hesperidin and more.
- Includes vitamins & herbs to help support vascular health.
- Capsules & cream for a dual-action formula.
- Cost-saving purchasing options.
- 60-day money-back guarantee on both used and unused bottles.
- Manufactured in an FDA registered facility.
The Downside
- Sells out fast.
Our Takeaway
When looking at the bigger picture of all the varicose veins products that are available, VariDerm really stands out. This manufacturer has done their homework in terms of understanding what a comprehensive formula looks like and what ingredients are beneficial. They have included all of the ingredients on our list plus oat straw extract for improving circulation, plantain for encouraging repair of damaged cells, and more! Not only that, VariDerm comes in capsules with an additional secondary formula for a cream to target varicose veins both from the inside and outside. We appreciate the fact that VariDerm contains no additives, preservatives or synthetic ingredients and that it was formulated by medical experts and doctors. What’s more, the many positive customer reviews, and testimonials confirmed what we already thought – this is an excellent product. If you are searching for a good quality varicose vein reduction product, then check out VariDerm. It comes at great value, with amazing multi-purchase saving options, and a 60-day money-back satisfaction guarantee. This is one product that we highly recommend.
#2
VitasupportMD Vein Formula
What Do We Like?
- Contains Hesperidin and Diosmin.
- 2 month supply per bottle.
- Manufactured in an FDA registered facility.
- Vegetarian.
The Downside
- No money-back guarantee.
- Limited variety of ingredients.
Our Takeaway
This product has two of the ingredients that we expect to see in a quality varicose veins support supplement. Diosmin and Hesperidin help to reduce swelling and restore vein function. The ingredients are in the micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) form which means they’re broken down to be better absorbed into the body so that you can get the maximum benefit. We would have liked to also see the inclusion of Horse Chestnut for inhibiting enzymes that damage the capillaries, and Cayenne to relieve pain and stimulate circulation, to name a few missing ingredients. While there are only 2 ingredients in this formula, we appreciate the attention to absorption and that this product is vegetarian and made in an FDA registered facility in the USA. Many customers who took this product for swollen veins seem to have experienced positive results and are happy with the product. Unfortunately, there is no satisfaction guarantee to boost our confidence in this product’s effectiveness.
#3
Sanhelios Circu Caps
What Do We Like?
- Contains quality ingredients.
- Does not contain any preservatives or artificial ingredients.
- Relatively inexpensive.
The Downside
- Only contains two ingredients.
- Limited satisfaction guarantee.
- Contains gelatin.
Our Takeaway
At first glance, this product seems like a cheap option for relieving varicose veins and their associated symptoms. It contains 33.3 mg Butcher’s Broom extract standardized 9:1 and 2 mg Rosemary Oil. Though it may seem that there is only a small amount of the circulation-improving Butcher’s Broom, the standardization does make the ingredient more potent. Rosemary oil is believed to improve circulation and may help to relieve pain. However, 2 mg is a very small amount and most research on Rosemary oil is for topical use or use in air diffusers. Though this product contains ingredients to improve blood flow and maybe relieve pain, there is no Hesperid or Diosmin to shrink swollen veins and strengthen capillaries. We think this product had a good start but would have benefited more from a larger variety of ingredients to achieve more and better results. If you decide to try this product, you should know that the money-back refund policy is only up to 30 days from purchase and it can take up to 10 days for shipping. This leaves you with very little time to determine if the product is working for you or not. After 30 days, it is possible to receive store credit in place of a money-return, up to 120 days. Additionally, you should note that shipping and handling charges are non-refundable.
#4
Auriderm Clearing Gel
What Do We Like?
- Contains Vitamin K.
- Easy to use.
- Suitable for all skin types.
The Downside
- Lacking several key ingredients.
- No capsule option to work from the inside out.
- Does not come with a money-back guarantee.
Our Takeaway
This is a very simple cream, with most of the ingredients simply contributing to the texture of the cream. The active ingredient is Vitamin K which is an anticoagulant that is popular as a varicose veins treatment. Based on the reviews, this product does seem to be effective at treating spider veins, however, it is not targeted at larger varicose veins. There is no Horse Chestnut for reducing inflammation and inhibiting damaging enzymes, no Cayenne to relieve pain while boosting circulation, no Bilberry or Rutin for antioxidants and lowering blood sugar and cholesterol, and no Diosmin and Hesperidin to restore vein function. If your only concern is spider veins, this might be enough, but it doesn’t address the bigger picture of what causes venous insufficiency. We were unable to find a manufacturer’s site and therefore when purchasing this product the guarantee or refund policy is according to wherever you purchase from.
#5
VaricoLess® Vein Support Powder
What Do We Like?
- Contains 1 ingredient from our list
- Money-saving options for multi-purchases
- Free shipping in the US
The Downside
- On the more expensive side
- Counterproductive ingredients
Our Takeaway
This product claims to relieve the symptoms of varicose and spider veins by supporting vein function and circulation. With 200 mg Horse Chestnut to improve venous tone and decrease pain, this product is off to a good start. The remaining 2 ingredients are L-Arginine and L-Citrulline for boosting Nitric Oxide (NO) level. We question the decision to include these ingredients and in such high doses because they cause vasodilation which makes veins larger and can actually contribute to the development of varicose veins. Even with Horse Chestnut to support venous tone, this product as a whole may do more harm than good.
Another thing that concerns us about a powder supplement is that it is less exact. While a capsule contains a regulated amount and a cream blends everything together, powders can settle and separate. When it comes to supplements, we prefer to be exact but capsules aren’t for everyone which is one of the reasons this product made our list. However, unlike many of the products on our list, this product is not backed by a satisfaction guarantee and after examining the ingredients, we can understand why.