Many individuals have visible and bulging hand veins. These veins protrude near the skin’s surface. Many people dislike the veins and think that they make their hands look older. However, age is not the only cause of these protruding veins.
While these prominent hand veins can become quite large over time, they are usually not caused by a serious health problem. However, in some cases, swollen veins are caused by more serious vascular disease and require the attention of medical experts.
If you are wondering if you have an underlying vein problem or you simply want to get rid of bulging veins, contact a vein clinic to know more about potential treatments. If you want to know more about visible hand veins, keep reading.
Why are veins in the hands so noticeable?
Everyone’s body is filled with blood vessels. They are necessary to transport blood and nutrients. Veins can be more or less visible in different people. In many cases, their appearance is nothing more than a cosmetic concern, but in others, they can be a sign of a medical problem such as vascular disease. Following are some of the primary causes of bulging blood vessels in the hands:
- Age: As we age, our skin becomes thinner. This thin and inelastic skin cannot hide the veins under the skin as well. Getting older also means not only weaker skin, but weaker blood vessels. Fragile valves can cause blood to pool in the veins. This reduced or slowed blood flow increases the size of veins exponentially.
- Low body fat: Although many individuals try to lose fat when they get older, doing so can lead to other cosmetic changes. With lower body fat, there is less fat covering and filling the skin around the veins, so the veins protrude more on the skin’s surface. This doesn’t just happen in the hands—you may notice bulging veins in your arms, abdominal muscles, or other parts of the body, too.
- Hot weather: Heat can make your veins quite obvious. As temperature increases, objects tend to expand, and our veins are no exception. This expansion increases pressure on the vein walls and can cause pain or cramps. With the hot weather, blood can also pool under the skin. This may lead to your hand veins appearing as a brighter blue or purple color.
- Genetics: Unfortunately, visible veins on your hands can be part of your genetic makeup. You may notice that other people’s hands in your family show veins in the same way. If this is the case, the veins are probably not a health concern. However, you can still opt for cosmetic surgery to reduce the appearance of the veins if they really bother you.
- Varicose veins: When you think of varicose veins, you most likely think of the legs. Varicose veins are signs that blood vessels are not working correctly. Spider veins and varicose veins can appear anywhere in the body where blood flow is interrupted or the vein walls are damaged, including the hands. If you have hand veins as well as varicose veins in other body parts, you may be dealing with a health problem. Seek medical advice from a vascular surgeon for an appropriate evaluation and treatment.
- Disease: Sometimes blood clots are the cause of visible veins. The veins near the surface of the skin may swell if you have a condition called superficial thrombophlebitis. This is a health problem, but although it is commonly painful, it is not usually dangerous. This venous inflammation is also related to other health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, infections, or other types of injuries.
- Exercise: Though exercise is good for your health, it can cause visible veins in your hands. When you exercise, your blood pressure increases as blood is pumped through your body more forcefully. For most people, the appearance of swollen veins returns to normal after exercise as the body calms down. However, some people who exercise daily or perform high-intensity exercise such as weightlifting may begin to see permanent blue veins on their skin.
Treatment Options
There are some options for treating visible hand veins. Before starting a treatment plan, you need to see a doctor to determine the root cause of your swollen veins. If you have varicose veins or spider veins on your hands, you may need to address deeper health issues. Some of the available treatment options include:
- Sclerotherapy
This is a well-known procedure to reduce the appearance of visible veins. During sclerotherapy, a chemical solution is injected into the vein. The solution collapses the injected vein and closes it permanently. Typically, after two to three weeks, the closed veins heal and visually disappear.
- Intravenous ablation therapy
Ablation is a less invasive way to treat small veins. In this treatment, amplified light or radio waves are directed at the target vein and close it up without any incisions. This method of vein removal does not require anesthesia.
- Ambulatory phlebectomy
Ambulatory phlebectomy is a minimally invasive treatment to remove veins from the hands. A physician makes a small incision to remove the vein. You must see a vascular surgeon for this type of treatment because it is considered a minor operation.
If you’re tired of seeing your bulging hand veins, connect with an experienced Philadelphia vein specialist who can help you with a highly effective treatment. We are a leading vein clinic where you can get treated and become more confident in your body again.