Spider veins or broken capillaries are thin red veins most commonly found around the nose, eyes, and cheeks. Broken capillaries happen when capillary walls lose elasticity and become weak. The vein being less elastic can’t return to its previous size after dilation. The vein then collapses and makes the skin turn red.

Causes:  The most common cause of broken capillaries is genetics but other environmental factors such as sun exposure, extremes in weather, natural hormone changes, medications, and the misuse of exfoliants and peels also contribute to the cause of broken capillaries.

Treatments:  There are both medical and home remedy treatments for removing spider veins. Medical treatments can be costly but very effective while home remedies are less expensive  but will take a considerable amount of time to see results.

Medical Treatments:  An experienced dermatologist can tell you the personal cause of your broken capillaries and may prescribe facial creams or laser treatments that will permanently remove them.  Laser treatments start at around $200 per session and may take several sessions to completely remove the broken capillaries. The prescribed facial creams can also be costly and may require several refills before complete removal.

Drug Store or Over the Counter Creams:  Facial creams rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin K found in most local drugstores can be relatively inexpensive yet effective. Vitamin C improves skin tone an quality by helping it produce collagen and Vitamin K reduces redness because it helps with blood circulation and clotting. Before going to bed apply both creams, starting with the Vitamin C cream first. Let it absorb into the skin completely then apply the Vitamin K cream generously and leave on overnight.

Essential Oil Home Remedy:  Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory that is often used to treat acne, eczema, rashes, dermatitis, and other skin irritations. Mix 10 drops of chamomile essential oil with 4 ounces of your favorite moisturizer in a small container with a lid. Apply 2-3 times a day to the areas where the spider veins are.

These home remedies can be effective but results and length of time for results may vary from person to person. To minimize your frustration while waiting for broken capillaries to fade you could use a green based concealer and apply it to the areas where there are spider veins. Green based concealers neutralize redness and will work well to conceal broken capillaries. Also, be gentle in the treatment of your skin. Avoid harsh facial cleansers and exfoliants, wear protection in harsh weather, and limit your consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods.