What are veiny hands?
Understanding veiny hands
While some people don’t bother much about veiny hands, it can seem like a nightmare for the others. Most women get embarrassed because of the bulging veins, as the bulging veins make them appear older than they really are. Not everyone has this protruding hand vein issue. However, these veins become slightly enlarged and become too visible for many other people.
Varicose veins are twisted and enlarged veins. Any superficial vein can become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are those in your legs. That’s because walking and standing upright increases the pressure in the veins of the body.
For a lot of people, varicose veins and spider veins (a common, mild variant of varicose veins) are only a cosmetic concern. For some others, varicose veins can also cause aching pain and discomfort. There are times when varicose veins may contribute to more severe problems. Treatment may involve natural therapies, light exercise, corrective steps, or procedures by your doctor to close or remove veins.
See: Natural Remedies For Heart Health
Dor medical conditions cause bulging veins in veiny hands?
Can bulging veins in hands have underlying medical conditions?
As people age, exposure to UV rays and the aging effect can make overall hand anatomy changes. The epidermis of hand thins and the textural roughness appear. This roughness can occur because of the quality, as well as the quantity of collagen and elastin, reduces. Since hands have fewer sebaceous glands, eccrine glands, and more hair follicles, the hand veins become more visible. While all veiny hands are not a cause of concern, if you feel pain or any other symptom, it is advisable to visit a healthcare expert. [1]
What causes veiny hands?
Reasons for veiny hands
1. Exercise
When you are doing strength exercises, it can cause the blood pressure on your arteries to increase. Thus, it causes the muscles to harden and pushes the veins towards the skin, and this way, you get a veiny hand.
2. Genetics
Genetics is another major cause of veiny hands. Thus, if your family members or your parents have veiny hands, there are high chances that you may have to face this issue.
3. Cardiovascular disease
If you are suffering from long-standing cardiovascular disease, you might see lots of hand veins that pop out. This bulging occurs because the venous blood return is very sluggish and slow, leading to bulging veins.
4. Low body fat
People who have low body fat percentage, their fat percentage beneath the skin is also less. Thus, their veins beneath the skin look much closer to the skin, and it may seem that the veins are bulging out.
5. Pregnancy
If you are in your pregnancy period, you may feel that your veins are popping out. The veins bulge because your body is making excess blood and nutrition supply to the baby in your womb. This extra blood causes the blood flow in your veins to increase by 40%, so more veins will appear on your hands.
6. Excess weight loss
If you lose too much weight due to certain medication, disease, or any reason, you may see too many veins popping out in your hands. Because of losing excess weight, the fat layer under the skin melts away and causes the veins to become more visible. [2]
How can you get rid of bulging veins in the hand?
Getting rid of veiny hands
Natural treatments:
– Garlic: Garlic is used for several conditions that are linked to the heart and the circulatory system. Garlic produces allicin and ajoene, which can be sulfurous compounds having the ability to boost blood circulation. They contribute to the avoidance of inflamed blood vessels and into the prevention of blood clots. Garlic has very potent anti-inflammatory properties that are excellent for reducing the swelling of varicose veins and the discomfort they can cause. Additionally, garlic contains quercetin, a flavonoid that can help strengthen the veins and blood vessels, preventing them from suffering any harm.
– Lemon: Lemons are high in vitamin A, C, B6, E, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, magnesium, copper, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, and protein. The high vitamin C helps protect cells from harmful free radicals and protect against oxidative damage. Furthermore, it helps avoid varicose veins, high blood pressure, and skin wrinkling according to research done by the American Society of Clinical Nutrition.
– Cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper is considered a miracle cure for varicose veins. It contains vitamin C and bioflavonoids (an antioxidant that’s used to treat allergies, viruses, or arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions). It can also help reduce atherosclerosis, promotes fibrinolytic activity, and prevents variables that result in the formation of blood clots, all of which may help reduce and cure varicose veins.
– Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar contains high levels of enzymes, protein, and bacteria that are friendly. However, the main component in apple cider vinegar is acetic acid that can kill harmful bacteria or stop it from multiplying. Moreover, many animal studies have proven that vinegar can lower blood glucose, blood pressure, blood clots, and cholesterol.
– Aloe vera: Aloe vera gel contains salicylic acid and antiseptic compounds that kill off the germs that cause acne that makes it a terrific natural remedy for breakouts and an exceptional cleanser for the skin. It’s also packaged with minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, and vitamins A, C, and E, that all work together to fortify the skin’s barrier.
– Carrots: Carrots are a good source of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A (from beta-carotene), potassium, biotin, vitamin K (phylloquinone)sulfur, and vitamin B6. They help in fixing skin tissue in the event of damage. It may penetrate the skin and assist it with recovering faster from outside wounds and injury.
See: Varicose Veins Treatments In Homeopathy
– Witch hazel: Witch hazel has its medicinal properties in the tannins, essential oils, choline, flavonoids, and saponins. Its properties make it quite effective in treating skin disorders of all kinds, including psoriasis and eczema. Pharmacological studies at the University of Michigan indicate that witch hazel strengthens veins and functions as an anti-inflammatory. Tannins provide witch hazel’s astringent action, which helps tighten distended veins and fix their regular structure. This process helps shrink tissue and act as mild sedatives to ease the pain and discomfort associated with varicose veins.
– Cabbage: Cabbage is packed with antioxidants and phytochemicals. It is also full of insoluble fiber, beta-carotene vitamins – B1, B6, K, E, and C, and lots of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, and sulfur. When these phytochemicals and antioxidants touch the affected area, they hit the veins through the pores to help the blood clot and stop the seepage of blood.
– Horse chestnut seed: Horse chestnut extract is an effective remedy for free radicals. Horse chestnut seeds are used for a long time to heal varicose veins due to their anti-swelling and anti-inflammatory properties. Horse chestnut seed is full of quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, two powerful antioxidants with extreme disease-fighting capabilities. Regular use of horse chestnut extract can cure chronic venous insufficiency. This benefit is because the infusion of the horse chestnut seeds is believed to prevent the breakdown of proteins inside the capillary walls.
– Marigold: Marigold, (otherwise called calendula) is an anti-inflammatory and can fight inflammation and infections. It contains flavonoids, triterpene, saponins, and carotenoids that are considered to act in numerous ways. This effect can include increasing venous tone, improving lymphatic drainage, and reducing capillary hyperpermeability. It can be taken as a drink or applied topically as an ointment to bring down swelling, ease pain, and prevent inflammation. Additionally, it has soothing and firming properties after being absorbed through the skin, decreasing the size of dilated veins, and triggering blood circulation in the affected regions. Massaging this as an ointment to the skin relieves pain and will stimulate the functions of the lymphatic system. This will enable the best elimination of these toxins from varicose veins.
See: Varicose Veins Treatments In Ayurveda
– Parsley: Parsley is full of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins A, K, C, and E, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, iron, pantothenic acid, choline, folates, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and copper. Besides, it contains several flavonoid antioxidants that protect the cells from free radical damage responsible for blood-related issues.
Parsley is abundant in vitamin C also contains potent collagen producing properties. It’s also absorbed by the skin’s pores quite easily and helps reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes that make it a perfect home remedy for preventing and treating varicose veins.
– Tomato seeds: Tomato seeds contain salicylic acid with properties similar to aspirin and function as an anticoagulant for improving blood circulation and preventing blood clots. Additionally, tomatoes are full of lycopene, which focuses primarily on our cell membranes and prevents damage to our own cells’ lipids. When applied to the skin topically, it reduces the veins’ appearance, and it affects the depth, strength, and fluidity of our membranes, enabling nutrients to be absorbed and preventing toxins from entering.
– Olive oil: Increasing blood flow is essential when it comes to treating varicose veins. Olive oil has anti-inflammatory, toning, and calming properties that will decrease the size of dilated and enlarged veins and activate blood circulation after being absorbed through the skin. Olive oil contains a high content of essential fatty acids, vitamin E, and minerals. The high content of Omega-3 fatty acids boosts the passing of blood through the veins and restores the use of the unidirectional valves.
– Rose oil: Rose essential oil is created by extracting Rosa Damascena, and researchers have uncovered it comprises several therapeutic chemicals known to promote healing within the body. It improves blood flow, inhibits blood pressure, and strengthens blood vessels. It’s an effective essential oil for leg veins. By ensuring that the blood vessels remain healthy and unclogged, future occurrences of varicose veins will be avoided.
See: Acupuncture For Varicose Veins
Other treatments:
The treatment for the veiny hands depends upon different factors like the age of the patient, the reason for the veiny hands, and also the medical condition of the patient. Most patients go for treatment because they want their hands to look better. As most medical issues do not cause most veiny hands, there is not that much to be concerned about. However, if you want your hands to look beautiful, you can choose to pursue some treatment options:
● Ambulatory Phlebectomy
It is a cosmetically elegant process that has been proved to be quite fruitful in the treatment of veiny hands. This procedure involves the surgical removal of large veins that causes problems. [3]
● Sclerotherapy
It is a non-surgical procedure that is used to treat both larger veins and smaller veins. Under this procedure, a sclerosant is injected intraluminally to cause the obliteration of veins. The most common sclerosant includes sodium tetradecyl sulfate and polidocanol.[4]
● Fat Transfer
This procedure is one of the most commonly used methods to rejuvenate hands for people with veiny hands. It is a natural volumizing way as it uses natural fillers. The process can provide significant results as it plumps and replenishes the back of the hand and hides the tendons, joints, and visible veins. [5]
● Ligation
For ligation, the patient has to undergo anesthesia. Under this process, the doctor will seal off the vein and tie off it to close it. This technique can only be used for longer veins.
● Other methods
Apart from all these methods, certain other procedures can prove helpful in restoring the natural look of your hands. Some of them include:
A) Platelets Rich Plasma to be used as a filler to give a rejuvenating look
B) Chemical peels, IPF, and Laser resurfacing can also work in your favor to rejuvenate the beauty of hands, by reducing bulging hand veins. In addition to reducing veiny hands, it can also prove helpful in the treatment of fine wrinkles, skin discoloration, and age spots.
Summary
For many people, bulging veins may not be the cause of any underlying medical condition. Instead, they are a cosmetic concern. Thus, you can look for other cosmetic treatment options to solve the problem of bulging veins. Even if you are thinking about getting cosmetic treatment, it is advisable to consult your doctor before undergoing any treatment.
