Hi - a friend of mine suffers from quite a few broken veins on her face and legs.  She has been told that once she has them there is nothing than can be done.  Does anyone know if this is actually true or is there some treatment she can undergo.  She has some under her eye right next to the bridge of her nose which particularly bother her.  I know this is cosmetic but anything I can tell her would be appreciated.  Many thanks.

Electrolysis may work if you can find a competent person willing to tackle it. It worked for my small ones years ago.

Thanks Rochelle - I'll pass the message on.  She might have to leave the one by her eye but I know if she could get rid of the others she'd be very happy.  I appreciate you getting back to me.

Happily, this is the easiest thing in the world to get rid of.  Any good dermatologist will be able to use a tiny laser to cut off the blood supply to the spider veins, with only a little short-term redness as a side-effect.  My husband and I have both had this done and it's extremely effective, simple and quick.  The only problem is that others will probably eventually form, but she can just get those treated as well.  Hope this helps.  Laura

There are laser treatments (i.e. Electrolysis) that your friend might find helpful, especially for the ones on her face.

If your friend also has some odd symptoms that come / go (perhaps starting with an odd flu)... there is another cause for the appearance of 'spider veins' and it is through a Bartonella infection. Mine appeared across my chest several years ago and became quite embarrasing especially in the summer as it was located across the area just below my bathing suit top. I had tried Electrolysis hoping that would help the appearance and it didn't.  :-(     Lastly, I was even asked if I had been a car accident (i.e. air bags deployed) or had some kind of blunt force trauma that would have caused this. I hadn't...

Eight years later the spider veins are now fading I am glad to say and it is because I have recently started treatment for 2-strains of Bartonella that I picked up in the UK/Ireland back around 2000. Here is a link that describes some of the most common symptoms, as well as the type of skin appearances that includes:  "These rashes may have the appearance of red streaks like stretch marks that do not follow skin planes, spider veins, or red papular eruptions." ( http://www.healthcentersofamerica.com/information.cfm?id=140 ).

Thank you all for your very helpful comments.  I'll pass the information on and I am sure she'll be very happy to know that she'll be able to get rid of them.  She's read too many reports that when you have them they are there for life.

I appreciate your input.

Thanks

Sue

The human body is an amazing organism that is under continual repair and regeneration, so take heart this too can improve.

Spider veins, broken capillaries are often a sign of both liver congestion and deficiency of vitamin C. To strengthen the capillaries, take Vitamin C + bioflavinoids, preferably a practitioner brand. For the liver, St Marys thistle. Avoid junk foods, reduce alcohol intake, include ginger in your diet, eat only healthy fresh foods, drink 8 glasses filtered water daily,  avoid drinking or eating very cold or very hot foods. Correct any digestive problems.

Topical application to the affected part of witch hazel cream or even a hemorrhoid cream will help to shrink the veins.

Happy Healing.

Yvonne Altclass, Naturopath/Counsellor  Australia 

Thanks Yvonne - I will pass all this on and will make a personal note to follow these rules so that I don't get afflicted at some future date.

Cheers

Sue