Many people may be concerned about veins that become more prominent on the back of their hands or below their elbows. Perhaps they weren't there before but have become more noticeable recently, or the way they appear differs depending on the height of their hand.
This time, we'll talk about the causes of visible veins in the hands and how to deal with them.
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Why do veins become visible on the hands?
Blood vessels consist of arteries and veins. Veins are located close to the surface of the body, and the veins that are visible on your hands are these veins.
There are various reasons why veins may become visible on the hands. Broadly speaking, they can be classified into those caused by illness and those that are not.
Due to illness
In people with high blood pressure, the pressure in the arteries is usually high, but if there is a heart condition caused by high blood pressure (such as heart failure), the pressure in the veins may also be high.
In addition, arteriosclerosis makes the blood thicker and impairs blood flow, which also affects venous blood flow.
These results in the blood vessels bulging and becoming more visible.
things that are not diseased
If your veins become more prominent when you lower your hands below heart level, and less prominent when you raise your hands to heart level or higher, the likelihood of illness is quite low.
This is a physiological change due to the ease with which blood flows from the heart.
From here, I will explain causes other than illness.
aging
As blood vessels age, even if it doesn't reach the stage of arteriosclerosis, the walls of the blood vessels can thicken, making it easier for blood flow to worsen.
Additionally, the skin on the back of the hands and arms loses elasticity and firmness, making blood vessels more visible.
Genetic
If you have prominent veins from a young age, it may be due to genetics. This is especially likely if many of your relatives have had prominent veins from a young age.
This is due to having little subcutaneous fat.
The back of the hand naturally has little subcutaneous fat, but if you are thin, the amount of subcutaneous fat decreases even further, making the blood vessels more visible.
Caused by ultraviolet rays and dryness
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays slows down skin metabolism, resulting in skin aging and loss of firmness.
As the skin loses its firmness, the blood vessels become more visible.
Furthermore, while dryness is a cause of skin aging, ultraviolet (UV) radiation exacerbates skin dryness. Since the hands are particularly susceptible to UV exposure, everyone is likely to be affected by UV radiation to some degree.
Caused by cold or stress
When your body gets cold or stress increases, blood circulation worsens and blood stagnates..As a result, blood vessels become more visible.
reference)
Veins in your arms are bulging! A thorough explanation of the causes and solutions! (currentjp.com)
How to deal with visible veins on your hands
There are two main approaches to dealing with prominent veins in the hands: conservative methods (methods that do not require medical intervention) and therapeutic methods.
Conservative methods
This section explains self-care methods that do not require medical treatment.
To improve poor blood circulation
To improve blood circulation, try to warm your body and exercise regularly. Moderate muscle training is also effective in warming up the body.
Massaging your feet and hands while taking a bath is also a good idea.
Protects against 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 and fingertips when going outside.
Also, after washing your hands or doing housework involving water, be sure to apply a moisturizing cream or other moisturizer to prevent dryness.
Therapeutic methods
This explains the treatment methods available at medical institutions.
Treatment of illness
If you suspect you have heart disease due to high blood pressure, or a disease that causes arteriosclerosis (such as hyperlipidemia or diabetes), you should visit a medical institution and get instructions from a doctor regarding the necessity of oral medication.
External laser
This method involves irradiating the skin with a laser to constrict the blood vessels in the hands.
Sclerosing agent injection therapy
This method involves injecting a sclerosant into the blood vessels in the hand to block them.
Intravascular laser
This method involves inserting a thin tube into a vein and using a laser to burn and seal the blood vessel from the inside.
fat injection
This method involves injecting your own concentrated fat into the back of your hand. While it doesn't address the root cause of visible veins, it can improve the appearance.
Each treatment requires a doctor's judgment on whether it is appropriate for the individual, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Furthermore, since the condition of the veins in the hands is not diagnosed as a disease called "varicose veins," all treatments will be self-funded.
Cost considerations will also need to be taken into account.
If you wish to receive treatment, choose a hospital or clinic with a proven track record, and consult thoroughly with a doctor before deciding on a treatment method.
reference)
[New Treatment] A method to improve hand veins (visible veins on the hands) (theclinic.jp)
summary
This time, we discussed the causes of visible veins in the hands and how to deal with them. Here are the key points:
There are two main causes of visible veins in the hands: some are due to illness, while others are not.
There are two ways to deal with this: self-treatment and treatment at a medical institution.
If you seek treatment at a medical institution, you should discuss with your doctor the suitability, advantages and disadvantages, and costs of each treatment before deciding on a course of action.
With this understanding, let's consider what the cause is in your specific case and what countermeasures you should consider.
Supervised by: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda
