Are you worried that your hands look more veiny than normal? It could be a natural sign of aging. As we get older our skin thins and loses some of its elasticity, causing veins to become more visible. Other factors such as exercise, hot weather, low body fat and even genetics can be attributed to prominent veins. Generally, veiny hands aren’t anything to worry about but sometimes they can point to underlying vascular issues.
Several factors combine to make veins appear more prominent on the hands. The veins on your hands may bulge and look enlarged if:
You’ve just worked out – Physical exertion causes an increase in blood flow through the veins that results in thicker-feeling hands and raised veins.
You’re of a certain age – Skin becomes thinner with age as collagen levels decrease and once you’re over the age of 50, you’ll probably start to notice it.
It’s hotter out - The variance in temperatures between that of our bodies and the outside air can also cause blood to pump faster, causing the veins to appear more prominent.
You’ve lost weight – A loss in weight and body fat means your hands have less insulation which is why the veins are more visible.
Veiny hands run in your family- Yep, you’ve got your mom or dad or even your grandparents to thank because some things just are hereditary.
Swollen, enlarged or bulging veins can be caused by more serious issues such as:
Varicose veins – Although varicose veins are commonly linked to the legs, they can also appear in veiny hands. These veins become enlarged, swollen, bulging, or twisted due to weak or damaged valves, affecting around 20% of American adults. Besides being unsightly, varicose veins can lead to tingling, burning, discomfort, and other more serious health concerns.
Phlebitis – On occasions, phlebitis, an inflammation of the veins, may cause the veins in your hands to swell. Other factors such as injury, infection, and autoimmune disorders are usually associated with phlebitis.
Blood clots - If you have persistently bulging veins in areas other than your legs, it could indicate vein damage and fluid buildup that’s affecting circulation. This condition significantly increases your risk of developing a blood clot.
As we’ve already mentioned, prominent veins in the hands aren’t usually anything to worry about. You needn’t be concerned if your veins only enlarge following extensive exercise or changes in heat. However, if you notice any of the following you should call MINT STL urgently for an appointment.
At our MINT clinics, we tend not to treat veiny hands and instead, we treat legs! Why? Because we’re more concerned with treating the conditions that bulging veins often point to – and these issues tend to start in the legs.
At our MINT locations, we primarily focus on treating spider veins and varicose veins in the legs. The legs endure significant pressure when pumping blood against gravity, which is why vein problems frequently occur there rather than in the neck, stomach, or arms. The legs contain the great saphenous vein (GSV), the longest vein in the body, and various vein networks connect to it. As a result, our vein specialists and ultrasound machines typically examine this area first. In other words, if there's a potential for a blood clot or signs of vein disease, it usually begins in the legs, not the hands, no matter how veiny they may appear.
That said, we offer patients cosmetic treatments for spider veins and small varicose veins and medical treatments for unsightly, raised varicose veins that could lead to more serious issues further down the line.
If you have veins in both your legs and hands, we recommend you visit our board-certified vascular and interventional radiologists. If it’s just the veins in your hands that are bothering you and your healthcare provider has ruled out any medical issues, a dermatologist may be able to help.
Unfortunately, not. The only way to eliminate varicose veins is by making an appointment with a vein specialist who can treat your legs from the inside.
Here at Mint, vein treatments differ from one person to another. Some patients simply require cosmetic changes whereas others have extensive and debilitating vein damage that causes symptoms like itching, swelling, restless legs and pain.
Our vein treatment options are all minimally invasive, with little or no downtime and are performed as an outpatient, so in most cases, you can return home the same day.
Cosmetic vein solutions:
VenaSeal – A medical glue used to close the affected veins, stopping and redirecting blood flow to nearby healthy veins. Symptoms improve as soon as the veins are sealed.
Sclerotherapy – This procedure uses a special foaming liquid that is injected into the affected veins, causing them to dissolve and allowing your legs to look flawless and beautiful once more.
Treatments for larger varicose veins
Phlebectomy – Rather than just treating the problematic veins, they are removed through several small incisions in the skin. The procedure is conducted under local anesthetic to ease any discomfort you may feel.
Vein ablations – Also known as endovenous, laser or radio frequency ablations, the procedure uses targeted heat to seal the veins shut. The treatment takes around 20 minutes and can be accompanied with twilight sedation to help patients relax.
If you’re considering vein treatment, here’s a link to a post we wrote about what to expect after vein treatment.
Sometimes a patient may require a combination of treatments to achieve the desired results, but the only way you will find out is to schedule an appointment with the team at MINT.
Veiny hands may not look the prettiest but it’s the potentially underlying conditions that you really need to worry about.
