Like varicose veins, spider veins may result from damaged valves in the veins, which can cause blood to back up and fill the veins. Other potential culprits include pregnancy, heredity, sun damage, hormone fluctuations and injury. Because medical procedures to remove them can be expensive, it's natural to turn to drugstore products that claim to remove spider veins through topical application. The manufacturers of Vitamin K creams are among those who promise to fade spider veins.
The Problem
Spider veins are enlarged veins, although not as large or raised as varicose veins. But because they are closer to your skin's surface than varicose veins, they sometimes make themselves just as unsightly. Named for their resemblance to spider webs, the small veins are red and blue and most frequently appear on the face or legs, according to WomensHealth.gov. The American Pregnancy Association finds that most women complain of pregnancy-related spider veins on their face, chest, arms and neck. In this case, varicose and spider veins result from the demand of extra blood that needs to be diverted to the growing baby.
The Claim
Topical creams containing vitamin K claim that the products work because vitamin K, known for promoting properly clotting blood, can "choke off" the blood flowing into spider veins. Theoretically, this clotting effect causes the problematic veins themselves either to wither away or to become less noticeable. The link between vitamin K and spider veins may also be connected to a 2002 report published in "The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology." The report found that patients who used a topical cream containing vitamin K healed more quickly after laser surgery for spider veins than those who did not.
The Reality
MedlinePlus acknowledges that some people use vitamin K creams to remove spider veins, but it notes that insufficient evidence exists to recommend it for that purpose. The medical website endorses only dietary vitamin K for the purposes of treating deficiencies of the nutrient, as well as to resolve bleeding problems. Paula Begoun, author of the "The Complete Beauty Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Smart Beauty," describes vitamin K creams as ineffective -- but fortunately so. If the creams actually were able to penetrate the skin and close off blood flow to targeted spider veins, neighboring healthy veins might also be affected, she notes. Finally, the report that connected healing from laser surgery to vitamin K cream found that the cream reduced bruising from the procedure, not the spider veins themselves.
Options
For spider veins on your legs, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends sclerotherapy. With sclerotherapy, a doctor injects a solution directly into the spider veins, causing blood to clot, and eventually turning the spider vein blood vessels into scar tissue that fades with time. Surface laser treatments may also be effective for facial or body spider veins, but you may need up to five treatments to fade the veins completely. The American Pregnancy Association suggests vitamin C from food or supplements to strengthen the elasticity of your veins. The Association additionally notes that some pregnancy-related spider veins fade with time, even without treatment.
References
- MedlinePlus.com: Vitamin K
- "The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology"; The Effects of Topical Vitamin K on Bruising After Laser Treatment; Neha S. Shah, MD., et al; August 2002
- American Academy of Dermatology: Below-the-Belt Dermatological Conditions
- WomensHealth.gov: Varicose Veins and Spider Veins Fact Sheet
- American Pregnancy Association: Skin Changes During Pregnancy
- "The Complete Beauty Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Smart Beauty"; Paula Begoun; 2004
