Many people are concerned about veins that bulge on the back of their hands or below their elbows. They weren't there before but are now more noticeable, or they appear differently depending on the height of their hands
This time, we will talk about the causes of visible veins on the hands and how to deal with them
table of contents
Why do veins pop out in your hands?
There are two types of blood vessels: arteries and veins. Veins are located close to the surface of the body, and the veins that are visible on the hands are these
There are various reasons why veins appear on the hands. Broadly speaking, they can be classified into those caused by illness and those that are not
Due to illness
People with high blood pressure usually have high pressure in their arteries, but if they have heart disease (such as heart failure) caused by high blood pressure, the pressure in their veins may also be high
In addition, arteriosclerosis causes blood to become thicker and blood flow to become poorer, which also affects blood flow in the veins
This results in the blood vessels swelling and becoming more visible
Not a disease
If your veins are visible when you lower your hand below heart level, but become less visible when you raise your hand to heart level or above, then the possibility of illness is quite low
This is a physiological change caused by the ease of blood flow from the heart
Here we will discuss causes other than illness
aging
Blood vessels also age with age, so even if they do not reach the stage of arteriosclerosis, the walls of the blood vessels can thicken and blood flow can become poor
In addition, the skin on the back of the hands and arms loses elasticity and firmness, making the veins more visible
Genetic
If you have had visible veins since you were young, it may be genetic. If many of your relatives have had visible veins since they were young, this is likely the case
Due to lack of subcutaneous fat
The back of the hand is an area that naturally has little subcutaneous fat, but when you are thin, the amount of subcutaneous fat decreases even more, making the veins more visible
Caused by ultraviolet rays and dryness
If you are exposed to UV rays for a long time, your skin's metabolism will slow down, causing it to age and lose its firmness
As the tension disappears, the blood vessels become more visible
Dryness is also a cause of skin aging, and ultraviolet rays can accelerate this process. As hands are prone to UV rays, everyone is likely to be affected by them to some degree
Cold or stress
When the body gets cold or stress increases, blood circulation becomes poor and blood stagnates。As a result, the veins become visible
reference)
How to deal with bulging veins on your hands
There are two ways to deal with bulging veins on the hands: conservative (no medical treatment required) and therapeutic
Conservative methods
We will explain how to deal with this yourself without medical intervention
Improves poor blood circulation
To improve blood flow, try to warm up your body and exercise. Moderate muscle training is also effective in warming up your body
You can also massage your feet and hands while you bathe
Prevents UV rays and dryness
Regardless of the season, be sure to protect yourself from UV rays by applying UV cream thoroughly and covering your hands when going out
Also, be sure to apply moisturizers such as moisturizing creams to prevent dryness, especially after washing your hands or doing water work
Therapeutic methods
We will explain the improvement methods available at medical institutions
Treatment of illness
If you suspect you have heart disease caused by high blood pressure or a disease that causes arteriosclerosis (hyperlipidemia or diabetes), visit a medical institution and get advice from your doctor about the need for oral medication
Extracorporeal laser
This method involves shining a laser through the skin to constrict the blood vessels in the hands
Sclerosing agent injection therapy
This method involves injecting a sclerosing agent into the blood vessels in the hand to block them
Intravascular laser
This method involves inserting a thin tube into the vein and using a laser to burn and close the blood vessel from the inside
fat injection
This method involves injecting concentrated fat from your own body into the back of your hands. It doesn't address the root cause of the visible veins, but it can be expected to improve your appearance
Each treatment has its own advantages and disadvantages, and a doctor must determine whether it is suitable for each individual
In addition, in the case of the blood vessels in the hands, a diagnosis of the disease "varicose veins" cannot be made, so all treatment is at the patient's expense
Costs will also need to be considered
If you wish to receive treatment, choose a hospital or clinic with a proven track record, and consult with a doctor before deciding on a treatment method
reference)
[New Treatment] How to Improve Hand Veins (Protruding Veins on the Hands) (theclinic.jp)
summary
This time, we talked about the causes of visible veins on the hands and how to deal with them. The key points are as follows:
・There are two causes of visible veins in the hands: disease and non-disease
There are two ways to deal with this: self-treatment and treatment at a medical institution
・If you are receiving treatment at a medical institution, decide on a method after consulting with a doctor about the suitability, advantages and disadvantages, and costs of each treatment
Once you understand this, you can think about what is causing the problem in your case and what measures you should take
Supervision: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda