Expert: Casey Durrett - 8/16/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi Casey,
I have aged dramatically in the last 10 yrs.  I would think this is normal- but I look much older than any of my classmates.  I have undergone a very stressful time.  In the last 3 yrs I have developed telecangisis? veins on my face (lots) and am generally red in the face.  My face has also dropped an inch- 35 and ready for a facelift!  Anyway, I can't afford cosmetic surgery and was wondering if there were any natural home remedies or facials that I could do to help?
Thanks,
Wendy

ANSWER: Hi Wendy!

When it comes to home remedies for skin tightening/lifting - the best I am aware of is 1 egg white mixed with 1/4 teaspoon powdered alum. Alum is available in some grocery spice aisles - it is what helps to make pickles crisp. When using this concoction, mix the egg white and alum, apply a thin layer to face, allow to dry (about 10 mins), then remove with a cool, moist cloth. Believe me when I say - this will be the tighest mask you've ever felt.

Do not over use this mask, however. For whatever reason, the skin can build a tolerance to this tightening effect, so only use the mask about once every 5 days.


There are certain "face lift" massage treatments available by professionals. This may be something you're interested in. If so, let me know and I will post you more information on those.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Casey,
Thank you for the advice!  Yes, I would like to know more about those "face lift" massage treatments. Also, do you know of any home remedy for the veins and redness?
Thank you!
Wendy

Answer
Hey Wendy,

Although I'm familiar with professional massage treatments that can effectively help lift tissues, I did a little searching and also found this technique one can do at home. I wanted to post you the link. Keep in mind, I've not used this and don't know anyone who has, but it might be worth trying!

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/massage-yourself-a-face-lift.html

For professional massage treatments that are known to lift the face you can check out www.belavi.com and read over the information provided there. You can check with local spas in your area to see who is offering facelift massage. It is not the same as a normal facial, and is a series of precise massage movements and products intended to create the face lifting effect. So, it's very important to find someone in your area who is actually certified in the facelift massage method if you're going for professional treatments.

Unfortunately, it has been my experience that most cosmeceutical grade products cannot treat Telangiectasias effectively. IPL and Laser therapies are being used effectively, but are extremely expensive treatments. However, because some of the symptoms are so similar to those of rosacea, you may want to try some home care products geared for rosacea clients to reduce inflammation and redness. This does not mean the products will cure the spider veins, but you may be able to effectively reduce the redness. Control Corrective has an amazing line of products for rosacea clients, www.controlcorrective.com. And, you can purchase them at www.skin-spa.com.

Avoid over-rubbing your face. Avoid cleansing your face with hot water - just use lukewarm if you can possibly do so - and using a cool compress on your skin or just a cool moist towel can also help to alleviate some facial redness at times. The key here is to vaso-restrict (shrink down the blood vessels) rather than vaso-dilate (open them up)... Warmth will always vaso-dilate... Cool will always restrict. Avoid a lot of direct sun exposure - back to the vaso-dilating issue - and if you do a lot of physical activity that heats you up, always cool your skin down with a cool towel after you're done.

A few natural products you may want to study up on are:
Green Tea
Oatmeal
Licorice
Lavender
Vitamin C
Chamomile
and Emu Oil

These are specific ingredients that have produced positive effects when used on skin experiencing vascular troubles, redness, and inflammation. You may not be able to get rid of the spider veins completely without upper-level treatments, but you can help to control some of the other issues and possibly minimize the appearance of the veins with the ingredients listed above.

Hope this helps!