If you have large, swollen, and painful purple or blue veins on your legs, you’ve probably been dealing with varicose veins. Varicose veins can make you feel insecure about showing off your legs, and they can also cause discomfort and potential health complications. Fortunately, there are things you can do on your own and with the help of a doctor to eliminate them.

Here are 12 effective ways to get rid of varicose veins.

1

Compression stockings

  1. They put pressure on your leg veins to improve circulation. You can get them prescribed to you or you can find them over the counter at most drug stores. They come in a variety of different sizes and pressures, but you will probably be prescribed a class 1 (light compression) or class 2 (medium compression) stocking. They’re also available in different colors, lengths (to the knee or to the thigh), and different foot styles (covering your whole foot or stopping just before your toes).[1]
    • While compression socks can improve circulation in your legs, you will likely need to wear them all day to see any noticeable results.
    • Replace your compression stockings every 3 to 6 months.
    • Compression socks are not guaranteed to prevent varicose veins from getting worse or prevent new varicose veins from appearing, but they will improve your circulation.[2]
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7

Sclerotherapy

  1. It’s an injection that closes the varicose veins with foam. It will cause them to become less noticeable, and they won’t be as visible in your legs. Your doctor can tell you if you’re a good candidate for this procedure.[8]
    • No anesthesia is needed, but you may need multiple treatments for the same vein.
    • If you’ve had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the past, you may not be eligible for this procedure.
    • Sclerotherapy can have side effects, including blood clots in your other leg veins, headaches, changes in skin color, fainting, and temporary vision problems.
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9

Endovenous laser therapy

  1. Lasers or radio waves will kill the vein with heat, causing it to close. After the vein closes, it will scar over and fade from view. Deeper varicose veins, called saphenous veins, are usually treated with this method.[10]
    • Your doctor will insert a catheter, or small tube, into the problem vein through which a small probe is inserted. The laser or radio waves are transmitted through the tip of this probe, closing off the vein.
    • Healthy veins around the closed vein take over the flow of blood. Varicose veins on the surface that are connected to the treated vein usually close up shortly after treatment, as well.
    • This is a newer procedure, and it usually replaces the need to surgically remove the veins.
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10

Vein ligation and stripping

  1. Your doctor will tie off the vein and then remove it. They will make small incisions in your leg and then pull the vein out once it’s been tied off. This treatment was more common in the past, but is generally only used for patients who cannot undergo endovenous thermal ablation.[11]
    • You will receive anesthesia during this treatment, and the treatment will be performed in an operating room.
    • After the veins are removed, deeper veins will usually take over for the veins that are now missing, so blood flow should not be affected.

Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    What causes varicose veins?
    Mohiba Tareen, MD
    Mohiba Tareen, MD
    Board Certified Dermatologist
    Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.
    Mohiba Tareen, MD
    Board Certified Dermatologist
    Expert Answer

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    You often get varicose veins naturally as you age. The pressure, especially in women from having babies, can cause varicose veins. Your skin also naturally gets thinner and loses its elasticity as you age, so you don't have the thick skin to protect the veins anymore.
  • Question
    How do I stop veins from showing on my legs?
    Vlad Gendelman, MD
    Vlad Gendelman, MD
    Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
    Dr. Vlad Gendelman, MD is an Orthopaedic Surgery Specialist in Los Angeles, California. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in general orthopaedic surgery, including orthopaedic trauma, sports injuries, and joint replacements. Dr. Gendelman holds a BS in Biology from the University of Southern California and received his Doctorate from the University of California at Irvine. He then completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at SUNY Downstate. Dr. Gendelman is board certified with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a member of the Los Angeles County Medical Association, the California Medical Association, California Orthopaedic Association, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Gendelman is a published author of multiple papers in the field of orthopaedic surgery.
    Vlad Gendelman, MD
    Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
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    Avoid staying in the same position for an extended period of time since it can make your veins more visible.
  • Question
    I'm 26 years old and I have a lot of varicose veins in my legs. How can I treat them naturally?
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Family Medicine Physician
    Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Family Medicine Physician
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    You can try to apply apple cider vinegar. Soak a cloth or cotton pad in a little bit of vinegar and rub it all over the veins. Let it sit for 30 minutes to maximize the effect. I do not believe in home remedies for varicose veins, however, and I believe that you need to seek out medical attention.
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Warnings

  • While home remedies like lotions and essential oils are sometimes recommended for varicose veins, studies show that they aren’t effective.[15]
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About This Article

Mohiba Tareen, MD
Co-authored by:
Board Certified Dermatologist
This article was co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology. This article has been viewed 416,281 times.
4 votes - 75%
Co-authors: 23
Updated: July 20, 2022
Views: 416,281
Categories: Vein Health

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

To get rid of varicose veins, avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time to keep your blood circulating properly. When you do have to sit down, try to keep your legs elevated and uncrossed to reduce pressure on your veins. Additionally, sleeping on your back while keeping your legs elevated can help to improve your blood circulation and prevent varicose veins. Regular exercise and wearing compression socks are also helpful treatment options! To learn more about medical procedures that can reduce the appearance of varicose veins, read on!

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