Cold Winter Could Cause Vein Problems

The current cold weather can be bad news for thread veins. It can also have a surprising impact on varicose veins too. 

There are a number of ways in which being exposed to intense cold temperatures can cause issues with veins.

Facial thread veins

Firstly, when it’s very cold outside, we can notice more thread veins on the face. These may be tiny little broken capillaries, sometimes referred to as spider veins due to the very fine web-like appearance of them. These are caused because of the way veins react to heat. The purpose of veins is to manage body temperature. They contract when it is cold in order to reduce heat loss through the skin; but when you go to a hotter environment, they dilate or expand in order to avoid the body overheating. If you are going in and out of cold/warm temperatures, this can put the veins under some element of strain, with repeated contracting and dilating.

If you are going outside, it’s important to wrap up warm, including hat and scarf. Try and think about protecting your face.

Try and think about avoiding rapid extremes of temperature change. Go outside gradually rather than stepping from a hot house to a freezing outdoors. Then when you come in again, try and acclimatise gradually. It may mean using a porch area or adjusting your clothing. Just being aware of the issue is the first step.

Varicose veins

The good news is that cold weather can actually help your circulation. The veins are less likely to dilate (normal response to heat) and therefore blood has less of a tendency to pool. If you suffer from varicose veins, then you may notice a reduction in the swelling and discomfort during winter.

However, the lifestyle adjustments we tend to make during winter can be bad news for varicose veins.

Many of us tend to adopt a less active lifestyle during the cooler months, which means that the veins are not getting the regular activity that is essential to their health by boosting circulation.

In addition, many of us gain a few pounds over winter. It could be due to comfort food, Christmas parties and generally eating and drinking a bit more. Yet any weight gain tends to put additional pressure on the venous system and the legs are under more stress to pump blood back to your heart. This is when the veins start to become inefficient and pool blood, causing varicose veins to develop.

Maintaining an active lifestyle and healthy diet can make a big difference – but you’re also facing external factors that impede circulation, such as lower atmospheric pressure and general slowing of metabolism in the cold. That’s why it’s important do do what you can to maintain a healthy weight and keep up regular exercise to boost your circulation.

Once varicose veins have started to develop, the veins are already damaged and very unlikely to heal. The only solution is intervention with varicose vein removal treatment. So it’s best to try and avoid varicose veins, but if they do occur, there is good news.

Varicose & Thread Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics’ dedicated  London Vein Treatment Centre offers EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein). This is a very competitive price compared to other providers and treatment can be arranged very quickly, avoiding frustrating waiting lists.

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.