Veiny hands are unsightly, unpleasant, and, sadly, an all too inevitable part of the process of aging. Fortunately, all is not lost — there are some things that you can do to improve the appearance of your hands and restore a youthful glow to your skin.
What Causes Veiny Hands?
As mentioned earlier, the main cause of veining on your hands is age. But there are many other factors that can influence whether or not you develop veins on your hands. Some of these include:
Age
Older people tend to have weaker blood vessels than younger people, which means that they’re more likely to suffer from conditions such as varicose veins. The main cause of veining in your hands is age.
As we get older our body’s natural collagen production slows down, which means that our skin becomes thinner and more fragile. This makes it easier for blood vessels to break through the surface of the skin, creating the telltale red lines on your hand.
Medications
If you’ve been taking certain medications over an extended period of time, you may be at greater risk of developing varicose veins.
Certain medications such as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can also contribute to the development of veins in your hands. However, these are usually only temporary side effects, so they shouldn’t pose any long-term problems.
If you have had an injury or surgery, you may be at greater risk of developing veins in your hands. In addition, if you have diabetes, high cholesterol levels, or poor circulation, then this could also increase your chances of having veins appear on your hands.
Heredity
Having a family history of varicose veins increases your likelihood of suffering from this condition. This could mean that you inherit a genetic predisposition to venous insufficiency, or that your parents had varicose veins when they were young.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another common cause of veiny hands. During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin causes the ligaments and muscles surrounding your joints to loosen, which can lead to joint pain and swelling.
In addition, the increased pressure exerted on your circulation by the growing uterus can contribute to the development of varicose veins.
Low Body Fat
Low body fat can also cause veiny hands, and this is due to the fact that lower fat levels decrease the passing that is around your veins, making them more visible.
Hands tend to be the boniest, thinnest parts of the body, and so veins tend to be more prominent in this area.
Vein Removal And Surgical Treatment Options
There are two main surgical treatments available for removing veins from your hands: laser treatment and sclerotherapy.
Laser treatment uses light energy to destroy the damaged vein walls, while sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical solution into the vein to dissolve the lining of the vessel.
Both methods work very effectively, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment is one of the most effective ways to remove veins from your hands. It works by using pulses of light to heat up the area around the affected vein, causing it to collapse and die.
The procedure takes about 20 minutes and is performed under a local anesthetic.
There are several different types of lasers used for vein removal, including pulsed dye lasers, flashlamp-pumped solid-state lasers, and argon lasers.
Each type of laser has its own advantages and drawbacks, so it’s important to discuss them with your doctor before choosing which method will suit you best.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is another popular technique for treating varicose veins. It involves injecting a special liquid called sclerosant into the affected vein.
Once inside the vein, the sclerosant acts like glue, sealing off the damaged areas of the vein wall and preventing further damage.
Unlike laser treatment, sclerotherapy does not require any medical equipment, making it suitable for use in both hospital and home settings.
Both laser treatment and sclerotherapy are highly effective, safe procedures that can help you achieve permanent results. However, they’re not without their risks.
For example, laser treatment requires careful monitoring during the healing period and can leave marks on your skin. Sclerotherapy, on the other hand, carries a small risk of infection, and can sometimes result in scarring.
There are other options for removing veins from your hands, and these include:
Surgery
Surgery is one option for removing veins from hands, although it’s usually only recommended as a last resort.
If you have severe cases of venous insufficiency or if your condition hasn’t improved after trying other treatments, surgery may be an appropriate choice.
One such example is a phlebectomy; this is a surgical procedure designed to treat superficial varicose veins. This is done by cutting out a section of the vein below the surface of the skin.
Phlebectomy are often combined with other vein removal techniques such as endovenectomy or sclerotherapy.
Vein Stripping
Stripping is a minimally invasive procedure that involves removing the inner layer of the vein wall. This causes the vein to collapse and disappear.
It’s less painful than traditional vein removal techniques and is typically performed under local anesthesia.
If none of these options appeal to you, there are some natural remedies that may help reduce the appearance of veins on your hands. These include:
Wearing Gloves Or Socks Made From Cotton
Cotton is a natural, breathable material that is great for the skin, and focusing on making this a key part of your wardrobe can help to reduce the appearance of veins.
Avoiding Tight Clothing
Tighter clothing can restrict circulation, increasing the chance of prominent veins. Leather gloves can often be the culprit.
Using Lotions Containing Vitamin E
Vitamin E is important for healthy skin and good cell turnover and can keep your hands looking more youthful.
Try Wrist Stretches
Regular movement will keep your blood flowing and circulating effectively, so try and rotate or stretch your wrists regularly to reduce the appearance of veins.
Final Thoughts
While there are many different causes of varicose veins, and veins on your hands, they all have the common thread of being pretty unpleasant.
Fortunately, there are fixes, and many people find relief through simple lifestyle changes. Discovering veins on your hands does not have to be the end of the world; there are a number of potential solutions, and these include both surgical and more natural remedies.
