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Varicose veins are unsightly, and in some cases incredibly painful.  The appearance of these veins may be caused by prolonged standing, poor circulation, crossing your legs, or even high estrogen birth control pills may do it.  There are plenty of companies claiming to have products that will diminish varicose veins, but your best bet is to prevent.  Here is an excellent how-to from wikiHow that explains 10 ways to prevent varicose veins.

"Varicose veins—gnarled, dilated blood vessels that occur most frequently in the legs—affect about half of the adult population of the United States.  They are generally caused by pressure in the veins that, over time, weakens the vessel walls.  For most people, varicose veins and spider veins (their smaller, capillary-based cousins) are merely unsightly nuisances, but they can also make walking and standing extremely painful, and in extreme cases, they can cause skin ulcers.  While there is no sure way to prevent the formation of varicose veins, there are a number of things you can do to decrease your chances of getting them.

Steps:
1. Exercise regularly. Walking and jogging improve circulation in the legs, and proper circulation helps ward off varicose veins.  Exercise also reduces overall high blood pressure and strengthens the entire circulatory system.

2. Avoid prolonged standing.  Standing in one place for a long time increases venous pressure in the legs and feet, and over time this pressure weakens the blood vessel walls.  Since prolonged standing is almost unavoidable in some jobs, mitigate the harm by shifting your position as frequently as possible, and try to walk around at least every 30 minutes.  If your job can be performed while sitting, see if you can arrange that.

3. Maintain a healthy weight.  If you’re overweight, you put excess pressure on your legs. Exercise regularly and develop healthy eating habits, and you’ll reap a whole host of health benefits, including reduction of your varicose vein risk."  Read More

This is pretty funny!  Kiss and Makeup found this cellulite zapping miracle bike!  Here’s what they said about it: “Get into this rather ominous contraption and you won’t be beamed up, but if the claims are true (Kiss and Makeup is dubious) pedal away and you can wave your cellulite goodbye. It’s well known that exercise is a good way to rid yourself of some of your orange peel, but the Cellubike combines this with infrared lights to bake your legs smooth (or something). And how do they prove this works? With naked before and after pictures of course.”

[Via KissandMakeup.com ]

Does your salon disinfect the foot baths after every use?  Do you know how many other patrons use the same equipment?  A pedicure may seem relaxing and fun but the oozing boils that may result are not.  A dermatologist’s report shows salon pedicures can be, leg threatening.  The study shows 110 women developed severe boils all over their legs after salon pedicures.  The boils found on the legs of the pedicure victims were the result of a skin disease known as, mycobacterium furunculosis.  This disease can not be passed from person to person.  Rather, humans become infected through their environment and in this case, nail salon foot baths happen to the environmental breeding ground for this harmful bacteria.

You probably assume you’re safe because you go to an “up-scale” salon with “throne-like” pedicure chairs, but watch out, that makes you an accessible target for this hideous infection.  The throne-like chairs are the most difficult to clean, and portable foot baths are easier to clean in a sink.  If not cleaned properly, your legs (and other parts) run the risk of contracting this infectious disease.  When you’ve been waiting 20 minutes, it’s probably the last thing on your mind but make sure your foot bath is clean, or ask for a plain foot bath!

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