As temperatures rise so do our hemlines, so it’s no surprise that each spring I suddenly see a lot of patients eager to make their varicose veins vanish instantly. If you too find yourself wishing away those pesky veins, you are not alone … an estimated 80 percent of women have them.
Unfortunately, treatment options are few and far between (and not to mention costly). In my office I treat spider veins with special injections designed to make veins collapse and disappear. These can be quite effective over time, but it takes multiple visits to achieve results.
While there’s no current at-home therapy available, you can camouflage the appearance of your varicose veins with a sunless tanner. Sunless tanners can do wonders for hiding veins, bruises and even cellulite, and nothing says “hello spring” like a healthy, faux glow.
Achieving that perfectly bronzed, streak-free look isn’t as easy as it sounds. But after a few years of trial and error, here are my tricks of the trade:
- Start with a foaming formula that builds color gradually to create a more even, natural-looking glow.
- Before applying the product, exfoliate skin to remove dead skin cells. If you shave your legs, do so before applying your sunless tanner; shaving afterwards will reduce the life of your glow.
- Apply lotion to your knees, elbows, toes, toenails, heels and ankles to prevent your sunless tan from concentrating in those areas where skin is thickest. To avoid orange palms, wear protective gloves or wash hands with soap and water immediately after applying.
- If you do make a mistake, use acetone or nail polish remover to remove any unintended color. Let skin dry at least 15 minutes before getting dressed and avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing for the next three to four hours to allow color to develop evenly.
Order Rodan+Fields Foaming Sunless Tan to keep your legs (and all your body parts) glowing year round.
