How To Cover Up Spider Veins On Legs: Spring & Summer Tips

The long winter is coming to an end. It’s time to pack up those parkas and wooly sweaters and replace them with sundresses, shorts, and bathing suits. Unfortunately, for some people, the thought of wearing less clothing is not a happy one. If exposing your legs makes you feel uncomfortable because of spider veins, you are not alone. Many people suffer from these unsightly blemishes. 

Procedures and treatments can remove these blemishes, but they will require visits to a vein specialist and may cost hundreds of dollars. Summer is just around the corner, and you may not have time to get all the details worked out by then. If you are looking for a quick and temporary fix for your next day in the sun, consider one of these methods to cover up spider veins on your legs. 

Recognizing Spider Veins on Legs 

Spider veins are small, blue or purple markings on your legs¹ that form when the capillaries that carry blood just beneath the skin swell and become visible. They usually branch out from a central point, with many tiny veins forming a starburst or spider web design.² Although not pretty to look at, they are usually painless and are not a symptom of a major problem with the veins in your legs. 

Spider veins are very common, and it is estimated that between 30% to 60% of Americans will develop them as they age.³ They are more common in women, possibly due to the pressure on the blood vessels and/or the hormone build-up during pregnancy.⁴ 

There is no single recognized cause of spider veins, although several things tend to make them more likely to appear.⁵ These include: 

• Regularly standing or sitting for extended periods 
• Being overweight 
• Lack of exercise 
• Genetics 
• Hormones swings due to pregnancy, puberty, and menopause 
• Using hormone-based birth control measures 

Now you realize you have spider veins and perhaps why. The question is, how do you cover them up so you won’t feel uncomfortable when your legs are exposed? 

How To Cover Up Spider Veins on Legs 

Spider veins can appear on other parts of your body besides the legs. They frequently appear on the cheeks and nose. The following methods should help you cover up spider veins on your legs, but if you are looking to cover up spider veins on your face, you may also need other strategies.

Use Yellow or Orange Concealer 

Applying yellow or orange concealer to the spider veins does a great job of neutralizing the blue and purple veins.⁶ You will need to follow this up with a body foundation that closely matches your skin tone. Apply a light coating over the entire area, making sure that the coverage does not have streaks or darker spots. This will work well as long as you are not spending time at the beach or pool where the foundation and concealer will wash off.

Self-Tanning Products 

Self-tanning products can cover any blemishes on your skin.⁷ For the most natural look, they should be applied lightly each day. Be sure to spread them evenly to all the areas of your exposed skin and not just the areas where the spider veins are. A trusted friend can help you apply the tanner to your back and the backs of your legs, so you get even coverage everywhere.

Wear Gradient Compression Stockings 

Gradient compression stockings have come a long way from the clunky, off-white ones your mother used to wear.⁸ Now, they can be found in different shades and styles and may mimic the appearance of traditional stockings. While you may not want to wear any stockings to the beach or under a bathing suit, you should be able to find a pair that match that sundress you have been dying to wear. 

As an added benefit, gradient compression stocking may also help prevent the appearance of new spider veins. 

When In Doubt, Find A Vein Specialist for Expert Advice 

While spider veins are not usually problematic, it’s always good to get advice about any medical condition from an expert. If you have any questions about your spider veins, from why you developed them to how to cover them up and how to prevent the formation of new ones, ask a vein specialist.

Vein specialists are also the people you need to see if you are trying to choose which treatment to remove your spider veins permanently. Today’s procedures are more effective and less invasive than those from even a decade ago. 

To find a vein specialist near you, visit MyVeinTreatment.com and use the Vein Specialist Locator Tool. 

SOURCES: 

1. MayoClinic.org: “Spider Veins.” 
2. MedicalNewsToday.com: “ Treatment and Prevention of Spider Veins.” 
3. WebMD.com: “Varicose Veins and Spider Veins: Symptoms and Treatment.” 
4. MedicalNewsToday.com: “Treatment and Prevention of Spider Veins.” 
5. MedicalNewsToday.com: “ Treatment and Prevention of Spider Veins.” 
6. Allure.com: “How to Hide Spider Veins, Stretch Marks and More, this Bikini Season” 
7. Prima.co.uk: “ How to Disguise Varicose Veins: Five Simple Tricks.” 
8. Prima.co.uk: “How to Disguise Varicose Veins: Five Simple Tricks.”