Have you noticed veins starting to show in your hands? It happens to many people and can signify age. Age isn’t the only thing that can cause veiny hands though. If you are looking to improve the appearance of your hands by reducing hand veins The Vein Centre in Nashville (Belle Meade, Brentwood, Franklin & Mt. Juliet) can help. Bulging, blue veins on your hands can become very prominent and for some, this is a cosmetic issue they wish to avoid. Learn more about the causes of hand veins showing on the surface of the skin and the treatment options available.
What causes hand veins to become more visible?
Everyone has veins all through their bodies. They are necessary to transport blood and nutrients. Veins can show more or less on one person to another. Certain conditions can make your veins more visible such as hot temperatures, exercise, tight clothing, and sun damage. In most cases, their appearance on hands is a cosmetic issue, but they may be a sign of a medical problem like a vascular disease.
What Causes Veins To Be More Visible in Arms?
Your arms are also susceptible to visible veins. You often see this on bodybuilders and others who are into fitness. These veins are often desirable because they come along with low body fat and well-defined muscles. Veiny arms can also be caused by increased blood pressure, high stress levels, genetics, and age.
Causes of bulging hand veins:
Understanding why hand veins bulge can help demystify this common concern. While several factors might be at play, they often relate to natural body changes or lifestyle choices.
Age:
We all will inevitably age, and with that, our skin gets thinner. Thinner, less elastic skin is less able to hide the veins underneath the skin.
Not only is our skin weaker with age, but the valves in our veins are, too. Weak valves can cause blood to pool in veins. Strained blood flow enlarges vein size and exacerbates their visible signs.
Low body fat:
While many have the goal of losing fat to achieve their preferred aesthetic, doing so can create other cosmetic changes.
With less fat to cover and pad the skin around veins, you can see them protrude more on the surface of the skin. This doesn’t happen only on your hands, you may notice it on your arms, abs, and other body parts.
Hot weather:
Heat can play a role in why your veins are so visible. With increased temperates, veins will dilate and expand. This expansion adds stress to the vein wall and can be painful or crampy. With blood pooling under the skin from hot weather, you may notice blue ropey looking veins on your hands.
Genetics:
Visible veins in your hands could be part of your makeup, unfortunately. You may notice others in your family who’s hands show veins in the same way. If this is the case, the veins most likely don’t signify a health concern, but you may opt for a cosmetic procedure to reduce the appearance.
Varicose veins:
When you think of varicose veins, you most likely think of them on legs. Varicose veins are a sign of blood vessels not functioning properly.
Spider veins and varicose veins can appear on any part of the body where blood flow is disrupted or where vein walls and valves are damaged, and this includes hands. In this case, you may be dealing with a health issue, and you should seek medical counsel from a vascular surgeon.
Superficial thrombophlebitis:
Veins can swell near the surface of the skin, and this is called superficial thrombophlebitis. This occurrence is another health concern, but it is not usually dangerous, only painful.
This vein inflammation is generally associated with other health conditions like an autoimmune disorder, an infection, or another type of injury. Sometimes, a blood clot can be the cause of visible veins. Blood clots can form from prolonged use of an IV (intravenous drip).
Exercise:
Surprisingly, something good for you can create visible hand veins. When you work out, your blood pressure gets higher as more blood pumps through the body. Your hands aren’t an exception, and you can see veins more easily when veins are full and pushing up against the skin.
For most, the visual appearance of bulging veins returns to normal after exercise is complete, and the body has calmed down. Some individuals who exercise frequently or do high exertion exercises like lifting heavy weights may begin to see permanent blue veins in the skin.
Pregnancy:
During pregnancy, it’s common for hand veins to become more noticeable. This change is primarily due to the body’s need to supply increased blood and nutrients to the growing baby. Your blood volume increases by 20 to 40 percent during pregnancy, putting extra pressure on veins and making them more prominent.
Understanding the root cause of visible hand veins can guide you in finding the right solution, whether it’s accepting them as a natural part of aging or seeking cosmetic or medical intervention. Consulting with a healthcare professional can provide personalized advice, ensuring that your visible veins are not indicative of a more serious condition.
What If My Veins Suddenly Turn Blue?
If you notice prominent blue veins appear suddenly, check for skin discoloration and wounds that won’t heal on your legs. This can be an indicator of DVT, deep vein thrombosis, which is a serious condition. Veins rapidly turning blue can be a sign of blood pooling in your veins when the circulatory system is not functioning correctly. If the veins deepen in color, turn purple, or turn green, this is a sign to seek medical evaluation immediately.
In addition to affecting leg veins, DVT can also impact hand veins. Bulging hand veins might result from a blood clot deep in the arm’s veins due to circulatory problems. This can cause the veins in your hands to become more prominent as the blood flow is obstructed. It’s important to pay attention to these changes, as they might indicate a more serious underlying issue.
Key Signs to Watch For:
- Prominent blue veins
- Skin discoloration
- Non-healing wounds
- Bulging hand veins
When these symptoms are present, whether in your legs or hands, they can signify issues with your circulatory system. Always consult with a healthcare professional if you notice sudden changes in your veins, as early detection is crucial for effective treatment.
Treatment for Visible Hand Veins
There are a few options available for treating visible hand veins. You will need to consult your doctor to determine the root cause of bulging hand veins before you can start a treatment plan. If you have varicose veins or spider veins showing in your hands, there may be deeper health problems you will need to address. Something like low body weight would mean that visible veins would return to normal with weight gain. In this case, any treatment would be purely cosmetic and may not even be necessary.
Sclerotherapy:
This is a well-known procedure to reduce the look of visible veins. During sclerotherapy, a chemical solution is injected into predetermined veins. The solution makes the injected vein collapse, and it closes permanently. Over two to three weeks, the closed vein will heal and visually disappear.
Vein stripping and ligation:
This is a surgical method to close off a vein and remove it. Your doctor will make an incision, tie off the target vein, and manually remove it. Vein stripping is a more invasive treatment and will require anesthesia.
Endovenous ablation therapy:
Ablation is a less invasive manner of treating smaller veins. You may have heard of it as laser therapy or radiofrequency ablation. An amplified light or radio wave is pointed at the target vein to close it off without any incisions. No anesthesia is needed for this method of vein removal.
How It Works:
- Energy Application: The doctor inserts a thin fiber or catheter into the targeted vein. This fiber emits energy, either light or radiofrequency, that heats the vein’s walls.
- Vein Closure: The heat causes the vein to collapse and seal shut. Over time, the body’s natural processes gradually absorb the closed vein, diverting blood flow to healthier veins.
Why Opt for This Treatment?
- Minimally Invasive: The procedure requires only small incisions, leading to minimal scarring.
- Quick Recovery: Patients can often resume daily activities shortly after the treatment.
- Precise and Effective: By targeting specific veins, endothermal laser ablation provides targeted relief with a high success rate.
Ambulatory phlebectomy:
Ambulatory phlebectomy, also known as a micro-phlebectomy, is a minimally invasive treatment to remove hand veins. Veins are removed using small incisions. You will need to consult a vascular surgeon for this type of procedure, as it is considered mini surgical.
How It Works:
- Initial Assessment: Before the procedure, a thorough examination is conducted to identify veins suitable for treatment.
- Local Anesthesia: The area around the targeted veins is numbed with local anesthesia to ensure comfort throughout the process.
- Small Incisions: Tiny incisions are made along the course of the vein. These are strategically placed to access the vein without causing significant trauma to surrounding tissue.
- Vein Removal: Using specialized tools, the vein is gently extracted through the incisions. This technique minimizes scarring and reduces recovery time.
- Post-Procedure Care: After the removal, the incisions are covered with small bandages, and a compression bandage may be applied to support healing and reduce swelling.
Benefits:
- Quick Recovery: Patients often return to normal activities within a short period.
- Minimal Scarring: Small incisions lead to less noticeable scars.
- Effective Results: Provides a lasting solution for unsightly veins.
Prevention and Diagnosis of Visible Hand Veins
Visible hand veins are typically harmless, but understanding their underlying causes and prevention methods is essential.
Prevention Strategies
- Lifestyle Management: Leading a healthy lifestyle can reduce the prominence of hand veins. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet can help minimize vein visibility by supporting healthy circulation and reducing excess body fat.
- Hydration and Skin Care: Keeping the skin hydrated and well-moisturized can support overall skin health and potentially diminish the visibility of veins. Using quality moisturizers and drinking plenty of water contribute to this effect.
- Limit Sun Exposure: Excessive sun exposure can damage the skin, making veins more noticeable. Protecting your hands with sunscreen can prevent this effect and promote better skin health over time.
Diagnosis Procedures
If you’re concerned about visible hand veins, consulting a healthcare professional is advisable. Here are the common steps in diagnosing the condition:
- Medical History and Physical Examination: A doctor will begin with a thorough review of your medical history followed by a physical examination of your hands. This helps rule out serious conditions and understand any contributing factors, such as age or body composition.
- Ultrasound Imaging: In some cases, a doctor might recommend an ultrasound. This non-invasive test uses sound waves to visualize blood flow and assess for conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can obstruct blood flow and pose significant health risks.
- Blood Tests: Although rare for diagnosing visible veins alone, blood tests can help identify underlying issues, like clotting disorders, that might contribute to vein prominence.
By effectively discussing these methods with your healthcare provider, you can determine the best approach for managing visible hand veins and addressing any health concerns that may arise.
Common Treatments Performed by a Vein Doctor in Nashville
In addition to addressing hand veins, vein doctors in Nashville offer a range of treatments for various vascular conditions. These may include:
- Endovascular Therapy: A non-surgical approach to treat conditions affecting blood vessels, often involving catheters, balloons, and stents.
- Carotid Endarterectomy: A surgical procedure to remove plaque from the carotid arteries, reducing the risk of stroke.
- Varicose Vein Treatments: Beyond sclerotherapy, options may include laser therapy, radiofrequency ablation, and ambulatory phlebectomy.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Treatment: Depending on the severity, treatments may include blood thinners, clot-dissolving medications, or filters to prevent clots from traveling to the lungs.
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Interventions: Procedures such as angioplasty and stent placement to improve blood flow in the arteries.
Find a Board-Certified Vascular Surgeon in Nashville, TN
After understanding what might be causing your visible hand veins, consult with a certified vascular surgeon for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. The board-certified vascular surgeons at The Vein Centre in Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin, Tennessee, can assess your visible hand veins and provide vascular health screenings to determine the appropriate course of action. Schedule a consultation by calling The Vein Centre at 615-269-9007.