Enlarged hand veins are a cosmetic problem which may be due to aging, genetics, or low body fat. In rare cases, it can indicate a more serious condition, such as phlebitis or deep vein thrombosis.
Your hands may appear to age at a faster rate than your face, arms, or legs. The skin that covers them becomes thinner over time, making your veins more prominent. However, growing older isn’t the only reason behind bulging hand veins.
A high-carb diet, intense exercise, hot weather, and other factors may contribute to this problem, too. Physical activity, for instance, causes a temporary increase in blood pressure. As a result, your veins dilate to allow for more blood flow.
The good news is, you don’t have to start hiding your hands in public. Handscaping™ is a top treatment for bulging hand veins. Choosing one depends on your budget and health needs.
Interested to find out more? Let’s take a closer look at the most common causes of enlarged hand veins and how to address this issue.
What Causes Your Hand Veins to Bulge?
Bulging hand veins can have a multitude of causes, from inflammation to vascular system diseases. Many times, this problem is due to genetics or lifestyle factors, such as your diet and workout routine.
For example, certain foods increase blood flow, making your veins more visible. Cayenne pepper, garlic, cinnamon, beets, and leafy greens are just a few to mention. Some of these foods raise nitric oxide levels in your body, dilating the blood vessels.
Alcohol and carbs increase vasodilatation, too. However, this effect is temporary and should subside within hours.
Genetics can play a role, too. If your mother, siblings, or other family members have enlarged hand veins, there’s a chance you’ll inherit this trait.
Another aspect to consider is your body composition. Individuals with low body fat are more likely to have bulging veins on their hands than those who are obese or overweight. If you’re very lean, you may also have visible veins on your face, arms, and legs.
Sometimes, enlarged hand veins are due to a more serious condition. In such cases, you may also notice other symptoms, such as redness and swelling along a part of the vein.
Superficial thrombophlebitis, for instance, causes inflammation of the veins located near the surface of your skin. This condition affects about one in 1,000 people, especially women. Its symptoms may include:
- Tenderness to touch
- Inflammation and redness
- Darkening of the skin over the affected vein
If left unaddressed, this disorder may lead to infection or deep vein thrombosis.
To prevent complications, contact your doctor or a vascular surgeon as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, he may remove the affected vein or recommend less invasive treatments.
Treatment Options for Enlarged Hand Veins
A vein specialist is the only one who can determine the best course of action for each particular case depending on the person and what their sign is. Vascular diseases, for example, require a different treatment than enlarged hand veins due to aging to genetics.
If your hand veins are bulging but you’re otherwise healthy, Dr. Malvehy may recommend Handscaping™, a revolutionary technique he developed to treat bulging visible hand veins.
All in all, treatment options depend on the health concern, health issue, or cause. Here’s what you should know about the most commonly used procedures before taking this step.
Handscaping™
A convenient option is Handscaping™, an innovative treatment for enlarged hand veins. The procedure takes less than 10 minutes for each hand and delivers results that last a lifetime.
East Bay Vein Specialists is the only clinic in the U.S. to offer this treatment. Most patients only require a single session and can drive, type, or exercise immediately after leaving our facility.
During the procedure, Dr. Malvehy will inject a foamed medication into the hand veins. The medication does not sting or burn and patients only feel a little pinch (for those that feel anything!).
Handscaping™ will leave your hands looking natural and youthful. The results are permanent.
Keep Your Hands Looking Young
Your hands change as you age. While it’s not possible to reverse aging, there are ways to slow down this process and maintain a youthful appearance.
Our team can restore the beauty of your hands through minimally invasive procedures. We use the latest technology to treat enlarged hand veins, varicose veins, facial veins, and more. Contact us today to discuss your needs and see how we can help!