Q: The veins on the back of my legs seem to be getting worse with age. They look more pronounced and are bulging more than ever. Is there anything I can do to get rid of them or, at least, improve the look of them? I don’t want to give up wearing shorts and skirts this summer. – Patricia, Vancouver, BC.

A: Varicose veins can be anything from very small and threadlike to bulging and blue. They are a result of genetics, giving birth, standing for long periods of time or trauma to the legs.  They occur when the valves in the veins fail, causing a backflow of blood.  To prevent them – or to stop them from worsening – wear compression stockings and do frequent calf raises, both of which put pressure on the legs and stop this backflow.  However, professional treatments such as injectables and lasers work best.  Sclerotherapy uses injections of a vein-irritating substance to close off the veins, and lasers are being used to heat up blood vessels to seal them shut.

Spider veins vs. Varicose veins 

Spider veins are like varicose veins but are smaller and are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. Often, they are red or blue.

Did you know? Women are almost twice as likely to get varicose veins as men.

body contouring varicose veins