Reviewed by Dr. Kenneth Harper, MD
Are you starting to notice visible, bulging hand veins? If you’re concerned they may be varicose veins or even if you just don’t like how they make your hands look, our experts at Vein Specialists of the South in Macon, Warner Robins, and South Atlanta, Georgia, can help. Find out how we diagnose and treat bulging hand veins below.
Real patient results. Before and after ambulatory phlebectomy for bulging hand veins.
What Causes Veins to Show on Hands?
There are several reasons why your hand veins may be bulging or appear more visible. These include aging, exercise, genetics, varicosity, and even low body weight.
Aging and Visible Hand Veins
Aging is a top contributor to visible hand veins. Volume loss and thinning skin can make even healthy veins appear more prominent. Aging is also a contributing factor to varicose veins, where blood pools in the veins, causing them to become enlarged and bulging.
Exercise, Increased Circulation and Bulging Hand Veins
If you notice your hand veins more after exerting yourself, this is a temporary and natural result of exercise. This happens because your circulation increases when your muscles are active. Many body builder enthusiasts covet being muscular, lean and ‘vascular’ as signs of being in great shape.
The Genetic Factor
Whether the veins are more prominent in your family or you have a family history of venous disease, your genetics can be a factor which “causes” your veins to be more visible on your hands and elsewhere on your body. Some have thin, transparent skin that shows our veins more.
Low Body Weight
Being very thin or even underweight can make your hand veins appear more prominent.
Deep Vein Blood Clots
There is a lot written about blood clots in the legs, but you can also get them in the deep veins of your arms. One source of thrombosis of the subclavian vein, which drains the blood from the arm back to the heart, is scarring from IV lines placed in the central veins of the chest. Athletes (such MLB pitchers) can develop clots in their arm veins; this is due to muscular overgrowth pinching the subclavian vein draining the arm between the muscles and an extra rib. No matter their cause, blood clots in your arms can break free and travel to the lungs, so it’s important to watch for the symptoms of blood clots in your arms and seek help with a vein specialists if you are concerned.
Superficial Vein Phlebitis, Vein Inflammation
Autoimmune disorders, infections, IV medications and injuries can all contribute to inflammation of the veins resulting in phlebitis or superficial blood clots. This can make your hand veins appear red, swollen and tender.
Varicose Veins
Though rare in the hands, you can get varicose veins anywhere. Varicose veins are less common in the arm than the legs since it is a gravity thing. If the valves in the veins become damaged over time, proper blood flow is affected. This causes the blood to pool, which makes the veins swell, bulge, and even twist. The vein walls are also affected, as they stretch and weaken. This can lead to bleeding risks if an injury occurs. Varicose veins should be evaluated and treated by your vein specialists.
What Can I Do For My Veiny Hands?
The cause determines the treatment. As you saw above, there are many reasons your veins may be bulging or visible. For this reason, it’s crucial to receive a full vein evaluation and collect a medical history to help determine the cause and treatment for your hand veins.
Your Vein Evaluation
Your first appointment includes a good history and physical exam. An ultrasound of the affected veins and surrounding area may be performed if your vein specialists feels this is needed. All of this helps us determine the cause of your visible veins and how to best treat them.
Your Vein Treatment
I am sure you are interested in finding out the best treatment option for your hand veins:
- Ambulatory phlebectomy, the removal of a diseased vein through 2 mm micro incisions.
- A referral to our sister practice Spa Medical to address the signs of aging on your hands, including skin rejuvenation and injectable fillers to restore lost volume.
- Sclerotherapy, an injectable treatment used to address varicose veins and spider veins, dissolving the diseased vein through a series of treatments.
All of our procedures are Walk-In, Walk-Out™ requiring only local anesthesia and a small injection or micro-incision. Patients report only minor discomfort following our vein procedures, which can be managed with over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol).
If your bulging hand veins are caused by an underlying condition, such as autoimmune disease, injury, infection, or blood clots, we will work with you and your primary care provider to ensure the underlying cause is addressed before we consider treating your veins.
Why Should I Choose Vein Specialists of the South for My Hand Veins?
At Vein Specialists of the South, all we do is veins, and it’s what we’ve done for almost 30 years. Our comprehensive evaluations and team based approach to care ensure you get the right treatment for the right patient at the right time.
If you have cosmetic needs with your aging hands, we work alongside SpaMedical, where they offer superior cosmetic injectable services and skin rejuvenation treatments for all of your aesthetic needs.
At Vein Specialists of the South, veins aren’t just one thing we do; it’s all we do!
Book Your Vein Evaluation in Macon, Warner Robins, or South Atlanta, Georgia
Are you tired of visible, bulging hand veins? Do you want to restore a more youthful appearance? Our three convenient locations provide individualized consultations and personalized care plans catered to your unique needs.
Too busy to get on your schedule? We are all busy these days! That’s why we created VirtualVein.com, our online vein evaluation service. Just fill out the online form, upload photos of your hands, and we’ll take it from there.
