Thread veins on legs - is there any hope? (Pics included)

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Just that. I’m in my 30s, very fit and healthy but blighted with these awful veins (nearly all on one leg). My mum doesn’t have any. I NEVER wear shorts and would love to so much. Please give me all my options - what can I do? Am so tired of people saying I must be roasting in these hot weather and that I need some shorts, etc.

Thank you in advance. x

I’ve just bought some vein away cream after a recommendation on here but mine aren’t quite as severe. Maybe worth a try though to see if it reduces it? Another alternative is cosmetic surgery but I think there may be side effects such as more pressure on other veins.

Do you smoke? Spend a lot of time sat down or stood up?

The smaller ones could be removed by lasers-don’t cross your legs.

Thanks puds and super. puds - I’ve never smoked and am an (ex pro) dancer so have spent a lot of time on my feet, I guess?

I have them too. Does crossing your legs cause this? I cross my legs a lot.

You could try wearing compression tights or socks to see if this helps to reduce them?

Crossing your legs puts pressure on the veins which could lead to thread veins. That is my understanding.

I feel your pain, I’m in my early 30s and have these on my thighs. I’m also very fit and slim, my legs are a nice shape but I avoid shorts and skirts. I’m planning on getting them removed next year, there’s various things that can be done - I’ll book a consultation and see what they recommend. In the meantime I’ll be using gradual tan on my legs as this helps. I’m not sure if over the counter stuff really works.

Mine are like this too, when I wear shorts I never venture inside without an application of Airbrush Legs, it’s amazing. I use shade Light and the lotion is less messy than the aerosol.

I have them from years of standing & walking round the wards.
I find a bit of a tan helps but basically I try to brazen it out & wear shorts/ short skirts anyway.
It's annoying but basically my best friend has a prosthetic leg so I feel guilty getting upset about a few veins.

But I don't want to minimise how you feel OP sorry. I know you can get them lasered or injected. And as I said a tan definitely makes them look better - fake or real.
Also you can try camouflage make up.

I don’t want to minimise how you feel either OP, but honestly, I wouldn’t notice them if you were wearing shorts. And if I did, I wouldn’t care. Wear the shorts if you want.

I have marks on my legs but I still get my legs out. I get complimented on them all the time and people even comment on how “clear” my skin is - which I obviously find bizarre as I know I have these marks. Just goes to show that people don’t pay much attention to your flaws.

I'd use a really good false tan and build it up to be quite dark. If your legs are toned (as you're an ex-dancer, I bet they are) and you've shaved them and moisturised them if necessary, I doubt anyone will even notice the veins except you.

I find sclerotherapy is excellent (and cheaper than laser).

Laser works a treat. Purple veins on pale skin are very receptive so you should see great results although if you have a lot it might be a bit much to have done in one session. You can get a course of three in a reputable salon for a few hundred pounds, which sounds a lot but it is LIFE CHANGING.

Well its surgery or fake tan and make up to cover it. It doesn't look bad, wear the shorts!

I work in Aesthetics. I do a treatment called Sclerotherapy that would help your thread veins. Have a look on you tube at videos.
Around 3-4 sessions would be needed

Thank you so much for all the helpful comments. Thanks, too, for your kindness - I realise that vanity comes into play here.

Short term, I’ll try fake tan. Does anyone know of any good camouflage make-up, please?

Long term, I’ll have a look into the suggested therapies.

Thanks again x

I've had them all down the side of one leg for years and I'm mid twenties. There's no way I can afford the cosmetic removal so I just ignore them and wear what I like. Getting tanned in summer makes them far less visible, but I doubt anyone really notices anyway. I certainly don't spend my time looking for other people's 'flaws' so I doubt others do either.

I use Covermark as a camouflage. it's about £20 a tube on Amazon but will last for ages.

Wear the shorts. My legs are similar and I used to always keep covered. Now I don't - getting older and caring less certainly helps.

agree, you are probably very self conscious about it. doubt many people will notice :)

Thank you. diyhaircut, did you get a sample kit of Covermark first to find the right shade? x

Most women with very fair skin seem to have them at some point, mine are terrible, and I am getting varicose veins now too, just like my Mum.
While I just had a few thread veins, and no varicose ones, and less flab, I used a brilliant liquid stockings from boots, like thick foundation, Sally Hansen airbrush legs is a similar product, as boots seem to have discontinued theirs. Now I won’t wear shorts, but to cover the thread veins on lower legs I either use the Sally Hansen, or Perfect Legs Skin Miracle from This Works, that gives just enough colour to soften thread veins.

I know they can be injected with saline- but I'm not sure if that is the same as, sclerotherapy, which I thought used a chemical. I'd suggest a proper aesthetics clinic, rather than any 'beauty' salon that does it as a side line though.

My dark skinned mother had them, and she was a sun worshipper - exosure to sun can cause them - so if you want to tan your legs, fake it. I find the St Tropez gradual tan in light works on me. If you are prone to them, even if you have sclerotherapy, you will get new ones. Juat before lockdown I had a 'top up' treatment for mine - I need to do it every 5 years or so.

Does the treatment hurt ? I would love to get rid of my varicose veins but worry about whether that increases DVT risks later.