What it means if veins have appeared on the hands. Doctors have named 5 possible causes

Many people think that enlarged veins are necessarily varicose veins and disease. This is not always the case. For example, true varicose veins on the hands practically do not happen. We tell you about the causes that can provoke such a condition.

MD, Phlebologist Surgeon, Head of the Department of Surgery KEMT

Why can veins appear on the hands? What does this mean?

High load

Ivan: Protruding veins on the forearms and hands are usually associated with their enlargement due to constant forceful load on the hands.

For example, if your professional activity is connected with working with your hands. Usually such changes are temporary – the veins gradually return to their “standard” size.

Low weight

MD, pediatrician, nutriciologist, co-founder of the Academy of Physicians UniProf

In people with poorly expressed subcutaneous tissue veins are located close to the surface of the skin.

That is, the thinner a person is, the more likely it is that the veins will show through the thin skin. In this case, you should not worry – most likely, the veins themselves are fine.

Age-related changes

Irina: As we age, the amount of natural collagen and hyaluron, which are responsible for skin elasticity, decreases. Because of this, the veins also become more visible.

Varicose veins

Irina: It is more serious if the cause of veins on the hands is varicose veins. This disease is associated with a decrease in the tone of the venous walls. Varicose veins can be accompanied by painful sensations, which may be signs of other diseases: neuritis, arthrosis, arthritis. Therefore, do not delay a visit to the doctor for diagnosis.

Varicose veins of the upper extremities are rare. This is due to the fact that the hands do not experience excessively large overloads, and the pressure in them is relatively low. The risk of the disease is higher in people with hormonal disorders, genetic predisposition and heavy physical work.

To treat varicose veins, methods involving minimal intervention are used: laser therapy, phlebectomy, sclerotherapy and physical therapy procedures.

Whether you can do fitness with varicose veins and how to do it, told in a previous article – read the link below.

Congenital diseases

Ivan: A very small number of enlarged veins are of a dangerous nature. Such are usually associated with congenital disorders of the structure of the vascular network of the hands and do not appear on their own. On this basis, with healthy veins, you do not need to do anything. Only if you are very annoyed by their species from an aesthetic point of view – you can go to a phlebologist, and he will offer options for correction.

How to realize that you need to check the veins with a doctor

If you visually do not like the veins protruding on your hands – go to a phlebologist. He will dispel all doubts after a routine examination. Most likely, you will not need special examinations. In such cases, very rarely prescribe ultrasound of the hands.

Ivan: But if the enlarged vein began to hurt, the hand swelled or changed color, the doctor should not go to the doctor, but run. Such symptoms are characteristic of thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the veins in which the clot is formed). But on the hands it happens very rarely. As a rule, with a hereditary predisposition to thrombosis and after trauma to the vein (for example, after hitting a ball in the forearm). In such a case, urgent treatment is required.

Read more about what can be dangerous blood clots, read in the previous material at the link.