Pregnancy is most likely to be complicated by varicose veins, since during pregnancy a woman experiences increased stress on her legs. Not all medications for dilated veins may be safe for the fetus, so before smearing your legs with one or another remedy, you should consult with your doctor. In addition to therapeutic purposes, ointments for varicose veins can be used as a prophylaxis to prevent the formation of the disease.
In pharmacies and cosmetic stores you can find a lot of ointments for varicose veins, but not all of them will be effective. To understand which options are worth attention and which are not, you need to focus not on the manufacturer or cost, but on the composition of the product. It must contain the following substances:
The product may contain only one active ingredient or several at once.
It is imperative to check that the ointment does not contain synthetic compounds that can negatively affect the development of the child. It is best to give preference to product lines specifically for pregnant women.
Products for external use are intended only for the prevention of disease and relief of symptoms. If treatment for varicose veins is required, it should be carried out after childbirth.
Most often, heparin is present in external agents used for varicose veins. Heparin ointment is the cheapest drug in this group, but it brings noticeable results and is in no way inferior to more expensive creams and gels. One tube of this product weighing 25 g costs an average of 50 rubles.
In addition to the active ingredient, heparin, the drug also contains anesthesin, which reduces the severity of pain, and benzyl nicotinate, which promotes better absorption of the main components. Heparin ointment helps thin the blood, relieve inflammation, swelling and pain.
To get rid of the symptoms of varicose veins or prevent its development, it is necessary to treat the affected area with a small amount of the product 2-3 times a day for 1-2 weeks. If the therapy does not bring the desired results, you should consult your doctor about the possibility of further using the ointment or replacing it with another medicine.
The product has a small number of contraindications, including individual intolerance to the components, open wounds on the legs, as well as the presence of diseases that slow down the blood clotting process. It is not recommended to use Heparin ointment together with certain antibiotics, for example, tetracyclines.
Unlike ointments, gels have a non-greasy base, so they are absorbed faster, begin to act faster and do not leave greasy marks on clothes. The active substance of Lyoton is heparin. The gel helps increase blood circulation, prevents the formation of clots and strengthens the venous walls. The main advantage of the product is its analgesic effect. The cost of one package is on average 300 rubles.
For uncomplicated varicose veins, Lyoton is used 2-3 times a day for a course of 1-3 weeks. If the disease leads to thrombophlebitis - inflammation of the vessel wall with concomitant blood clot formation - the doctor may prescribe therapy lasting from 1 month to six months. However, the frequency of use remains the same - from 1 to 3 times a day. If varicose veins are complicated by trophic ulcers, Lyoton cannot be used.
In addition, the gel should not be used if there is a risk of miscarriage. Also, do not apply the drug to areas with open wounds. The use of the drug is contraindicated in the presence of diseases that slow down blood clotting. In case of liver failure, it is used only in the most extreme cases, and in case of renal failure - with caution.
This cream is available in a specialized line of products for pregnant women. First of all, it helps eliminate swelling, but is also able to relieve pain and fatigue, which is important for varicose veins. To a greater extent, this cream is suitable as a preventive measure, since in the later stages of the disease it will not help much. The cost of one package of the drug is on average 350 rubles.
The active ingredients of the product are horse chestnut extract, leech extract, troxerutin, grape extract and mint essential oil. Mama Comfort quickly shows its activity, because immediately after application the woman feels a slight chill, relieving pain and fatigue. With regular use, the cream can eliminate the symptoms of varicose veins and prevent their reappearance by strengthening the vascular walls and improving microcirculation.
To obtain a lasting result, you need to apply the cream twice a day, preferably in the morning and evening, massaging onto clean and dry feet, moving from bottom to top. Before putting on clothes, you must wait until the product is completely absorbed. It is recommended to use the cream-balm both before and after childbirth.
Troxevasin is a venotonic drug that relieves swelling, inflammation and pain in affected varicose veins of the legs. The active component of the drug is troxerutin. Troxevasin is water-based, and its additional substances are hypoallergenic, so it can be used without fear during pregnancy. The cost of one package is on average 200 rubles.
Troxevasin is applied twice daily - in the morning and in the evening, gently rubbing without pressure into the affected areas of the legs, while it is better to move from the bottom up. If necessary, you can wear compression garments or a tightening bandage over the applied gel. To achieve greater effect, the manufacturer recommends using the gel together with Troxevasin capsules. If there is no positive result within a week, further treatment is discussed with the attending physician.
The only contraindications are individual intolerance to the components of the drug, as well as the presence of open wounds on the skin in the area of exposure. There are usually no side effects; only allergies may appear in the form of urticaria and itching, which disappear after taking antihistamines.
Diclofenac, unlike other drugs, can be taken only in the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy, since in the later stages it can harm the baby. This is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that, soon after application, relieves pain in the treated area and eliminates heaviness in the legs. It is best to use Diclofenac as an emergency remedy when you urgently need to relieve pain. The cost of one tube is on average 40 rubles.
The amount of the drug used is determined depending on the size of the treated area. The ointment should be applied 3-4 times a day, rubbing gently. After the product is completely absorbed, wash your hands with soap. The duration of the therapeutic course is prescribed by the doctor, but usually it does not exceed two weeks.
Venolife is used to eliminate swelling and inflammation; in addition, it improves tissue regeneration and tones the vascular walls. The product contains troxerutin, heparin and despanthenol. The gel can be safely used both during pregnancy and after childbirth during breastfeeding. The cost of one tube of Venolife is on average 350 rubles.
To cure varicose veins during pregnancy, you need to apply a thin layer of gel to the affected area and a small area around it with massaging movements 2-3 times a day. Most often, the doctor prescribes therapy lasting 2-3 weeks, but treatment may take longer. During pregnancy, you can repeat the treatment course twice if necessary. Venolife can be used for trophic ulcers, but you should consult your doctor about the method of use in this case.
Ointment during pregnancy for varicose veins can be useful for approximately 20-30% of women; with subsequent pregnancy, this figure increases approximately 2 times. Expectant mothers very often encounter this problem because their veins are compressed by the growing fetus, and a much larger volume of circulating blood flows through the thinned venous passages.
The veins become tortuous, swollen and take on a bluish color. Varicose veins during pregnancy require immediate treatment, and if any symptoms appear, the expectant mother should consult a doctor. Only he can prescribe the correct comprehensive treatment.
Usually this means wearing special compression hosiery, special nutrition, gymnastics, load control, massage and rest, ointment preparations (creams, pastes, gels, liniments), tablets.
During pregnancy, treatment must first of all be safe for the fetus. It is not possible to treat through surgery, even if the disease is far from at an early stage, and many pills are contraindicated. In order not to harm the child, it is advisable to use topical preparations applied externally (ointments, creams, gels). So, doctors usually recommend special stockings and some kind of ointment preparation for varicose veins in combination. In addition, ointments for varicose veins are suitable at the initial stage of the disease or as a preventive measure. They perfectly relieve swelling, eliminate pain and fatigue in the legs. In addition, ointment for varicose veins:
But for a pregnant woman, you need to more carefully select a product for external use, because it can penetrate into the blood through the skin, so you should carefully study the composition when choosing a medicine.
An ointment is a medicine that has a soft consistency and consists of two main components - a base and an active substance.
All ointments for pregnant women mainly contain the following components:
Many people have no questions about what to smear their feet for pain and inflammation, since they use very well-known and common remedies.
The most well-known drugs in the form of ointment, cream or gel today are: Heparin ointment, Hepatrombin, Lyoton 1000-gel, Ginkor-gel, Venitan, cream for varicose veins Venorm.
Heparin ointment, Hepatrombin in the form of ointment and gel and Lyoton 1000 gel contain an active ingredient - heparin, the use of which is possible only under the strict supervision of a specialist.
Ginkor-gel combines ginkgo biloba extract and rutin analogues. These substances act in such a way that the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels increases, the tone of the veins increases, and the swelling of the skin tissue goes away. The product is excellent for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Venitan in the form of gel and cream normalizes the condition of venous vessels, eliminates swelling and inflammation due to the horse chestnut extract it contains.
Anti-varicose cream Venorm is a highly effective remedy for varicose veins of the lower extremities. It contains only biologically active substances from extracts of horse chestnut, calendula flowers, and buckwheat, whose beneficial effects on blood vessels are known. Pregnant women can safely use this cream for varicose veins.
When using ointment for varicose veins by pregnant women, you should remember some rules:
If you follow all the rules and timely treatment, you can get rid of varicose veins quite quickly.
Today, the pharmaceutical industry is ready to offer dozens of external medications for varicose veins of the lower extremities. They will differ from each other in name, structure and price. But expensive does not mean the best. Therefore, even today the demand for such a time-tested drug as heparin ointment for varicose veins does not fall.
External preparations for varicose veins can be used as prophylaxis and as part of therapeutic therapy. Ointment alone cannot cure the disease, regardless of the type. In total, there are 3 groups of ointments:
Varicose veins of the lower extremities have different stages of the disease with a characteristic symptomatic picture for each. Therefore, for a certain type of pathology, a special pharmacological group of external drugs is indicated. A unified treatment regimen has not been developed. Each specific case requires an individual approach. Heparin ointment for varicose veins remains the leader in medical prescriptions. Why exactly heparin, we suggest you figure it out together.
Externally, the substance heparin is a loose, colorless powder that has no characteristic odor and is obtained from the respiratory organs of large-horned animals. According to its biological affiliation, heparin is classified as a carbohydrate, which is part of a protein molecule and prevents the development of platelets.
Heparin ointment has an anticoagulative effect. Providing an antithrombotic effect, this remedy gradually helps in the fight against varicose veins. When rubbed in, heparin ointment is easy to apply and instantly absorbed.
Upon penetration into the blood system, the absorption of the substances of the drug is 5%, the medicine is distributed along the blood vessels within 8 hours, the pharmacological effect lasts 12 hours. The components of heparin ointment do not form accumulations in the body and are released through the excretory system.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are accompanied by pain due to swollen veins and the formation of bluish vascular nodes. Dark crimson cobwebs and mesh plexuses give the legs a frightening appearance. Heparin ointment for varicose veins begins to localize the painful process and performs 3 effective functions:
Having a regenerating feature, the use of this product is appropriate for blockage of venous vessels, damage and swelling of the skin surface due to the progression of varicose veins. The greatest effect from the use of heparin is achieved when used at the initial stage of the disease, as well as after surgery for thrombophlebitis.
You can get the expected result of treatment with heparin ointment by following a number of general recommendations:
According to the instructions attached to the heparin ointment, the effect of the drug is due to a combination of the following active substances:
Providing an anticoagulant effect, heparin sodium salt neutralizes the process of blood thickening, keeping it in a liquid state. The thrombosis enzyme, experiencing the destructive pressure of heparin, loses the ability to fuse platelet blood cells. This prevents the formation of new blood clots.
Since sodium heparin is not able to independently destroy a formed blood clot, it will only slow down its further development. Some cells in the blood clot will, of course, die, but a complete cure can only be achieved with the additional effects of combined treatment therapy.
Nicotinic acid benzyl ester makes the veins wider, facilitating the unhindered movement of heparin to the pathogenic area of varicose veins and the subsequent absorption of the main active substance. Anesthesin (benzocaine) has a local anesthetic effect, reduces the permeability of the plasmalemma and blocks the source of pain.
Heparin ointment is identical in application to creams. The drug is applied to the superficial area affected by varicose veins twice within 24 hours. It is necessary to squeeze out a little product from the tube and apply a thin layer to the surface of the skin. Then the product is slowly rubbed in with massaging movements, this promotes its rapid absorption by the skin.
It is worth considering that external medications are applied to the cleaned surface of the feet. Therefore, it is first recommended to undergo a series of hygienic cleaning procedures. To do this, it is better to take a contrast shower or simply wash your feet under running water. A kind of water therapy will not only cleanse the skin of germs and bacteria, but also improve vascular tone.
It is recommended to cover varicose nodes with a thick layer of ointment and apply a bandage. The total duration of treatment is usually 14 days. In some cases, longer use is indicated.
The advantages of heparin ointment were noted by every patient who used it in the treatment of varicose veins of the legs, even during one course. We should not forget that heparin ointment is, first of all, a medicine that has some contraindications for use. The entire list of restrictions is contained in the instruction leaflet. Let's try to highlight the main reasons for contraindications:
Summarizing the above limitations, it can be noted that the main condition for applying heparin ointment is the integrity of the skin of the legs. Compliance with the dosage is mandatory and allows you to achieve the desired result and improve the health of the venous vessels.
A woman expecting a child is most exposed to heavy stress. The chemical properties of the blood gradually change with the possible possibility of an increase in platelets. The consequence of this phenomenon is the development of varicose veins. The third trimester of pregnancy is marked by a deterioration in the condition of many women's legs.
Since many tablet medications have contraindications for use by expectant mothers, the doctor will select a more humane treatment with heparin ointment. If the doctor considers that the ointment will not harm the health of the woman and the fetus, the medicine is safely included in the combination therapy for varicose veins of the lower extremities.
The features of using heparin ointment during pregnancy do not differ significantly from the treatment of other categories of patients. To avoid undesirable consequences, you need to know in advance whether heparin is suitable for the body or not. We are talking about the same individual intolerance to the structural components of the external medicine.
You can apply a drop of ointment to the skin, rub in and monitor the condition of your skin for 24 hours. Under no circumstances should you extend the course of treatment on your own, since exceeding the required dosage can have a detrimental effect on your health.
In a word, if you do not self-medicate, but entrust the selection of the necessary treatment for varicose veins of the lower extremities to your doctor, such dangerous situations as overdose and bleeding will be avoided.
The occurrence of varicose veins during pregnancy is not uncommon, as the negative impact of hormonal changes in the body affects the vascular walls, which leads to a decrease in their tone.
What to do if pregnant women are diagnosed with this disease, is it possible to give birth or will a cesarean section be required, what to do after childbirth? What should be the prevention of varicose veins during pregnancy?
There are many questions, but believe me, there is no reason to seriously worry about the baby’s health. A strong nervous system, reasonable adherence to doctor’s recommendations, the use of gentle ointments for varicose veins in combination with wearing compression garments make it possible to give birth to a child without problems and after pregnancy to devote much more time and effort to this problem.
During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes significant changes, and they are not always good. Varicose veins during pregnancy are the following symptoms:
If they talk about varicose veins during pregnancy, then most often they mean varicose veins in the legs due to the fact that real symptoms of the disease can be seen on them. In fact, there are many more varieties of the disease:
Different veins are involved in the pathological process. Expectant mothers experience problems with the blood vessels of the labia, uterus, pelvis and other organs.
The danger of varicose veins during pregnancy lies not in the disease itself, but in its complications. It could be:
The number of complications will decrease if a pregnant woman does simple physical exercises: cycling, rolling from toe to heel, raising on her toes, simplified birch.
For prevention purposes, the following should also be observed:
Self-medication is unacceptable; the disease should be dealt with by a specialist - a phlebologist. Gymnastics, compression stockings and nutrition play an important role in treatment. Local medications are often prescribed: gel, ointment or cream for varicose veins. Any remedy will not work, much less a folk one, since the active substance actively penetrates the blood and this will be dangerous for the fetus.
As the disease progresses, surgery or vein sclerosis is performed. Surgeries are performed only in the first two trimesters of pregnancy.
There is no need to refuse to wear special compression hosiery designed specifically for pregnant women. At the first symptoms of the disease, the doctor will recommend purchasing comfortable stockings or tights for varicose veins.
They help compress the veins, reduce congestion in the legs and significantly increase the speed of blood flow. Compression tights are used not only when varicose veins already exist during pregnancy, but also for prevention.
Special tights are worn in the morning in bed. Before this, you cannot get out of bed or put your feet down. They are worn all day and removed only before bed. If necessary, they can be removed, but re-tightened only in a horizontal position and before that you need to lie quietly for 15-20 minutes.
Varicose veins of the genital organs and small pelvis are dangerous because varicose nodes may rupture during childbirth, and then bleeding is inevitable. In the event of possible blood clots in the internal veins, the pregnant woman must undergo conservatorship, and the medical staff prepares in advance for a difficult birth. Caesarean section is not excluded.
Superficial varicose veins on the legs are mostly just cosmetic problems, but they should not be allowed to happen either, so you should only give birth in compression stockings. For childbirth, you need to prepare two pairs of them: one - during childbirth, the other - to wear after childbirth.
Two pairs because the first ones will become dirty and you won’t have time to wash them. If the problem is on one leg, then stockings are still only worn in pairs to create equal pressure in the legs.
It was said above that after childbirth, compression garments are also necessary, since there are real threats of blood clots breaking off. Don't forget this. Thorough treatment of the problem in a young mother will begin only after she stops breastfeeding and her genital area is completely restored.
While caring for a newborn, a mother should not forget about herself. How to treat? All prescriptions that took place during pregnancy must be followed after: diets, exercises, ointments.
The selection of contraceptives for varicose veins should be discussed with your doctor, since oral contraceptive pills are not allowed in moderate and severe cases of the disease. If you follow all the rules, the disease is not dangerous and, believe me, there can be no complications.
Therapist, Medical Center for Administration of the President of the Russian Federation
Varicose veins are a gradually developing chronic disease. It is characterized by an uneven increase in the diameter and length of the saphenous veins, their tortuosity, and the formation of sac-like expansions - nodes in places where the venous wall is thinned. There are several factors predisposing to the onset and development of the disease. First of all, this is a congenital weakness of the connective tissue, which means weakness of the muscles and walls of the veins themselves. If one of the parents suffered from varicose veins, then the chance of inheriting it from the child is 68%, and if both parents suffered from this disease, then the risk increases to almost 79%.
Harmful working conditions also influence the occurrence of the disease, and it is almost equally bad for the veins when during work you only have to stand, only walk or only sit, that is, harmful physical monotony. However, walking is still better than sitting, and sitting is better than standing. Excess body weight, smoking, chronic constipation and pregnancy also predispose to varicose veins. Pregnancy is a risk factor because the enlarging uterus compresses the pelvic veins, and then the inferior vena cava, thereby increasing intravenous pressure and preventing venous outflow.
There are three stages of varicose veins:
Compensation stage. Dilated veins and varicose nodes are visible under the skin, and complaints of increased fatigue and a feeling of heaviness in the legs appear.
Stage of subcompensation or partial compensation. At this stage of development of varicose veins, pain occurs. The feeling of heaviness and fullness in the legs is more pronounced. After prolonged exercise, swelling appears on the affected limb, which gradually disappears in a lying position with elevated legs. Cramps in the calf muscles may occur at night.
Stage of decompensation. The swelling is pronounced and practically goes away in the lying position. The venous nodes are significant, dilated veins are clearly visible under the skin, which becomes dry, easily wounded, and bluish-purple in color. This stage is characterized by the occurrence of trophic ulcers, which can even appear on their own, without visible damage to the skin as a result of disruption of its blood supply.
In the second and third stages of varicose veins, a serious complication may occur - acute thrombophlebitis - rupture of a varicose node with bleeding. This condition requires prompt surgical intervention.
To treat the disease in the initial stage and for its prevention, you can use therapeutic exercises, herbal medicine, and sometimes it’s enough just to follow a few simple rules. But at the stage of subcompensation, and even more so decompensation, if complications arise, you cannot do without specialized medical care!
Gymnastics against varicose veins. Therapeutic exercises are a very important, necessary component of the complex and effective treatment and prevention of varicose veins: it improves venous and lymphatic drainage. Before you begin performing therapeutic exercises, consult your obstetrician-gynecologist to see if you have any contraindications, such as increased uterine tone, etc.
As a warm-up (even at the workplace), you can perform the following simple exercise several times a day: rhythmically shift your weight, rolling from heel to toe and back, repeating the movement 10-15 times.
Traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of initial forms of varicose veins uses infusions, lotions, foot baths with infusions of medicinal herbs, and ointments. Of course, if the disease is already pronounced, then herbal medicine can only be considered as an auxiliary treatment. If you do not have individual intolerance, then from the recipes offered below you can choose the most effective and convenient for you.
These infusions can be used for compresses:
Attention! Do not use cellophane for compresses, especially long-term ones. It can trigger the development of diaper rash.
The following fees may apply:
The following herbal teas can be brewed for oral administration: