How to Get Rid of Cellulite and Spider Veins in the Legs
Cellulite and spider veins affect both men and women, although there is a higher occurrence of these issues in women. Cottage cheese thighs, a fond name for thighs riddled with cellulite, prevent many women from donning bathing suits and spider veins could become varicose veins if you don't take curative action quickly. Cellulite is there to stay once it appears, but spider veins can be eliminated. Some medical treatments and lifestyle changes can reduce the appearance of cellulite and eliminate spider veins completely.
Instructions
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Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite
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Eat a healthy, low fat diet. Your diet should include fruits, vegetables, grains and lots of water. Avoid processed foods and saturated fats, such as butter. Ensure that your daily caloric intake is equal to what is recommended for your age, gender and lifestyle.
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Exercise regularly. Exercise may not make the cellulite disappear, but it will tone your legs and make cellulite less obvious. Lunges and side lifts are particularly good exercises to include.
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Try medical therapies. Radio frequency is a deep-heating technique that uses radio waves and infrared light for negative tissue massage while laser therapy uses laser energy. The Mayo Clinic calls these the most promising medical therapies available, although there is no established cure for cellulite.
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Consider massages and cellulite creams. Although these methods have not been proven to be effective on their own, when combined with diet and exercise they may help reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Eliminate Spider Veins
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Purchase a pair of compression stockings. Compression stockings apply steady pressure to the legs, forcing blood through the veins in a more efficient manner. Compression stockings are available from pharmacies in different sizes.
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Exercise. Leg exercises, such as walking, will improve blood circulation in the veins and muscles of the calves and reduce the appearance of spider veins.
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Lose weight. Additional weight above what is recommended for your body type will place pressure on your legs and reduce circulation. Adopt a healthy diet that is low in fat and high in fiber.
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Wear loose clothing and low-heeled shoes. Tight clothing around your legs, groin and waist also reduces circulation in your legs. High-heeled shoes limit blood circulation in the calf muscles, which can lead to the appearance of spider veins.
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Improve circulation in your legs. Do not cross your legs. Keep your feet elevated above heart level when you relax. Do this as often as possible.
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Try outpatient medical treatments. The Mayo Clinic recommends medical treatments when nothing else works. Sclerotherapy (injecting the veins with a solution that forces them to close) and laser therapy are medical treatments for small veins. Intensive treatments for larger varicose veins include ambulatory phlebotomy, catheter-assisted procedures, vein stripping and endoscopic vein surgery.
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Tips & Warnings
According to the Mayo Clinic, genetics, stress, hormonal birth control pills and a sedentary lifestyle are all factors that can increase a woman's chances of developing cellulite.
Avoid liposuction. This procedure may be used successfully in shaping the body, but it cannot eliminate cellulite. The Mayo Clinic states that this treatment actually makes cellulite more noticeable.
