Get your legs ready for spring unveiling!

Get a leg up in time for spring!

After months of your legs hiding under pants and tights, it's almost time for the big reveal, with spring here and the weather warming up.

On "The Early Show" Thursday, Women's Health magazine Senior Editor, Sascha de Gersdorff offered advice on making your legs look better instantly. The best part is -- these are all things you can do at home.

(Most of the information discussed by de Gersdorff on the show and reproduced below was directly from this article in Women's Health)

Most women spend time and money pampering their faces, but blow off their body skin. And legs, especially, don't take kindly to the diss. Over time, they fall victim to damage, thanks to genetics, hormones, childbirth, sun damage, standing too much, and sitting too much. That can lead to cellulite, stretch marks, age spots and varicose veins.

Cellulite

Cellulite is the puckering and bulging that occurs when fat pushes through bands of fibrous connective tissue that separate it and organize it into chambers. Think of how a mattress looks -- that's cellulite. You can't eliminate cellulite altogether, but you can minimize its appearance.

Fluid buildup exacerbates the cottage-cheese look (it increases the fat bulge between the fibrous bands), so stay away from anything that makes you retain water, like salty snacks.

Tightening and smoothing your skin will make cellulite-stricken areas appear firmer.

First you'll want to exfoliate. Try Burt's Bees Sugar Scrub ($13) in the shower with a loofah, which will aid the products penetration. Honestly, exfoliating is something all women should be doing whether they suffer from cellulite or not.

Next, use firm, circular strokes to rub in a retinol-based cream, which will help rebuild collagen and thicken dimply skin. Try Roc Multi Correxion Skin Renewing Serum ($25)

Chase that with a coating of cream spiked with caffeine, which some studies suggest can temporarily stimulate blood flow and flush excess fluids. Try FatGirlSlim by Bliss ($29)

Apply this combo twice a day.

You can disguise cellulite or simply make your legs look smooth, firm and glowing with a daily moisturizer with a hint of tanner in it. The lotion will keep your skin supple and smooth while the tanner helps to hide any skin imperfections. Gradually Try Coppertone Gradual Tan Moisturizing Lotion ($10)

Stretch Marks

Rapid weight gain comes with an added woe: stretch marks. Putting on pounds too quickly stretches the skin, pulling the collagen and elastin apart and creating angry-looking red scars. These marks typically fade from red to white or gray after about a year, making them less noticeable on fair-skinned people but more pronounced on people with darker skin tones. In any case, the wrinkly texture persists.

It's easiest to treat fresh stretch marks that are still red. At that point, you still have a shot at reversing the inflammation and preventing a scar.

Look for a product containing onion extract, which studies have shown can reduce redness as well as the wrinkly texture. Try Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy ($39). Apply it twice a day for four to 12 weeks. Give it time to work; it won't happen overnight.

If stretch marks are left untreated, they can be more difficult to deal with. For older marks that are light pink or gray, a high-potency Retin-A cream (prescribed by a dermatologist) can rebuild collagen and minimize the marks when applied nightly for 12 weeks.

Age Spots

Many people slather their upper bodies with SPF, but then skimp on protecting their legs. Big mistake. Between shorts, skirts, and the sun's reflection off the sidewalk, legs are one of the most common places women develop melanoma and sun damage in the form of red or brown spots. Don't let the name fool you -- they don't have to just come with age -- they are basically from having been neglected with sunscreen.

Legs need at least half an ounce (half a tablespoon per leg) of broad-spectrum (UVA & UVB) SPF 30 anytime you're baring them. Try Yes to Carrots Hydrating Body Lotion with SPF 30

The good news: Over-the-counter creams can fade sun spots a bit. You can do something about them! The bad news: They take at least 12 weeks to work. Look for ingredients such as lactic acid (which exfoliates the top layers of skin), soy, licorice extract, and kojic acid; they can all block pigment production. Try AmLactin Moisturizing Body Cream ($13)

Spider Veins

Blame your mom or your kids: Genetic predisposition and hormones associated with birth control and pregnancy are big factors in the development of spider veins

But being on your feet all day or regularly wearing body slimmers can take a toll too-these supportive undergarments cause blood to pool in your legs and may make your veins bulge. A 40-milligram dose of horse chestnut seed extract has been shown to improve the tone of veins, increase blood flow, and reduce swelling. Try The Vitamin Shoppe Horse Chestnut Seed Extract Capsules $(9). Doesn't get rid of them, it's good for anyone trying to prevent.

To try to hide spider veins, you could try a heavy-duty water-resistant concealer designed specifically for the body, such as Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation SPF 30 ($42); it can erase all signs of spider veins, at least for the day. Apply it in long, even strokes, and use a damp makeup sponge to smudge away any hard lines. This is the same cream that can be used to cover tattoo.

If a foundation feels too thick to you or your veins aren¹t so prominent and you just want healthy, sun-kissed looking legs, then opt for a bronzer or a shimmery body lotion. Try Hard Candy Glow All The Way ($8). Since it's a bronzer, you see where you're applying the product (unlike most self-tanners which are white or clear) and you get the instant pop of color with a dab of shimmer, which helps to reflect the sunlight and make legs look amazing.

Are these skin imperfections simply cosmetic? Should you ever consult a doctor for any of these?

There are probably tangential health ramifications - like, if you eat the salty snacks/sodas that cause cellulite a lot, you're at risk for hypertension, etc. And if you're gaining a lot of weight and getting stretch marks, you could be verging towards obesity. If you have a lot of age spots, you might have burned yourself into a high skin cancer risk. And so on. I don't think spider veins are harmful. But the bad circulation that causes them isn't good for your health or blood pressure. Spider veins are not the same as varicose veins, which are more serious and sometimes require surgery. See your dermatologist if you have concerns or want more advanced options.