Lightly visible veins are normal in both the arms and legs, but varicose veins when veins become visibly enlarged, swollen-looking, twisted and discoloured. While most common in the lower half of your body, on legs, ankles, feet and pelvic areas, varicose veins can also occur, albeit more rarely, in your arms. No matter where vein conditions occur, it’s a good idea to have a professional assess them, especially if you are experiencing bulging hand veins pain.

At Vein Care, we provide comprehensive treatments for vein conditions in Melbourne, whether they are only cosmetic or are associated with more serious symptoms. Here, we take a deep dive into arm vein conditions, including when to be concerned and what certain symptoms may indicate.

 

Why Do I Get Bulging Veins in My Hands?

Prominent, bulging arm and hand veins are similar to those in the lower half of our body. These veins often need to work against gravity to pump blood back up towards our heart to reoxygenate. Regardless of where they appear on our body, vein conditions often have many of the same underlying causes, including older age, genetics, high body weight as well as occupation and lifestyle factors like spending prolonged periods standing or sitting.

 

What Causes Arm and Hand Veins to Become More Visible?

For some of us, bulging veins in our arms and hands can be just a cosmetic issue with no medical consequences. For others, it can be an indication of a more serious vein condition. A variety of causes can be blamed for prominent hand and arm veins. In many cases, examining different bulging veins causes can help determine whether the condition is a serious concern or can be explained by other innocuous factors. Vein doctors look at some of the following factors when undertaking a bulging vein diagnosis.

Older Age

As we age, our skin increasingly thins as the amount of collagen and fat under the skin decreases. As a result, veins appear more bulging and prominent. In some cases, bulging veins causes may be linked to conditions such as varicose veins. Our veins also weaken as we grow older, which can lead to faulty valves or a reduced ability to pump blood effectively, leading to vein conditions. If veins are bulging and accompanied by other symptoms like arm vein swelling, pain or discolouration, seek advice to determine whether treatment is required.

Lower Body Weight

Fat that sits underneath the layers of our skin conceal veins closest to the surface. When you lose a lot of weight, it’s quite common to notice veins becoming more visible, leading to a bulging appearance. This is especially true in areas like your arms and hands, which typically consists of less body fat.

 Exercise

 When we exercise, our blood pressure increases as our heart rate increases and more blood flows around our body. This can temporarily increase the visibility of our veins as they get full of blood. People who frequently exercise or partake in vigorous exercise regimes like weightlifting can often start seeing visible bulging veins protrude through the skin permanently.

Genetics

Family history also plays a big role in how visible our veins are. Individuals with lighter hair and fair skin, for example, are more likely to have visible veins on their hands and arms. If one or both of your parents have prominent veins on your body then you are likely to as well. If you have a family history of vein conditions such as varicose veins, you are also at a higher risk of developing them.

Hot Weather

Heat also increases the visibility of veins in your arms and hands. Higher temperatures, whether from warmer climates or a lot of exercise, means that veins dilate and expand. With sustained exposure to heat, this dilation can lead to the permanent appearance of visible veins on your arms and hands.

Medication

Particular medications may also have side effects that result in more visible, bulging veins in your arms and hands. This includes certain antibiotics, which can inflame veins and cause them to appear more prominently. Some medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also result in veins becoming more visible.

Lymphedema

An underlying condition called lymphedema can also result in prominent varicose veins in the arm. This is when lymph fluid starts to accumulate in body tissue resulting in a blockage in the lymphatic system. Swelling and inflammation can result in the affected limb, which in turn reduces blood flow and potentially leads to developing varicose veins.

Injury or Trauma

After sustaining physical trauma or a direct injury to your arm or hands, the blood vessels in the area can also be damaged and begin swelling or dysfunctioning. This includes impacts from tripping over and contact sport through to serious car accidents.

 

What Symptoms Accompany Bulging Veins in Your Arms?

The symptoms that accompany arm vein conditions depend significantly on the cause. If you experience varicose veins symptoms below, seek a diagnosis to ensure quick treatment if you have a vein condition:

• Localised pain and tenderness
• A feeling of heaviness in the arm with prominent veins
• Chronic aching or throbbing
• Swelling, burning or cramping sensations in the arms and hands
• Redness, itching and discolouration around bulging veins
• Dark blue or purple veins
• Skin inflammation, hardening or ulcers localised to one area around prominent bulging veins.

Keep in mind that many of these symptoms, like sudden swelling and bulging hand veins pain, may be due to a range of vein conditions, including varicose veins, venous leg ulcers or deep vein thrombosis, the latter of which is potentially life threatening. For these reasons, it’s always a good idea to get a prompt bulging vein diagnosis to protect your long term health.

 

The Impact of Bulging Veins on Arms

 From a cosmetic standpoint, those of us who begin noticing bulging veins on our arms can feel self-conscious about their appearance. Vein conditions like varicose veins, can often be hidden with clothing. In extremely visible areas like our arms and hands, it’s harder to cover up veins we think are unsightly. This can make casual daily interactions like gesturing or shaking someone’s hand an anxiety-inducing and embarrassing situation.

In worse cases, the heightened risk of bumping varicose veins in arms can cause discomfort and even pain. Without treatment, varicose veins can protrude and bulge at an increasing rate over time, leading to more pain, aches, swelling and reduced mobility. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for both cosmetic and painful vein conditions on your arms.

 

When to Seek Treatment for Bulging or Swollen Veins?

Remember that it is entirely normal to have visible veins on your hands and arms, even if they are visibly bulging more than you think is usual. It’s only an issue if the bulging veins are associated with a health concern or are causing issues like pain or persistent arm vein swelling. You can also seek treatment for cosmetic reasons, improving your quality of life by eliminating veins that affect your self-esteem.

 

What Are Some of the Treatment Options for Bulging Veins?

Depending on the cause and severity of your vein condition as well as your personal preferences, we offer a wide range of minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments for vein conditions here at Vein Care. Since most abnormal veins aren’t required for healthy blood circulation, you can eliminate damaged or dysfunctional ones without issue in non-surgical, outpatient procedures, including:

• Sclerotherapy – This quick, relatively painless varicose veins treatment involves injecting a special solution into the affected veins which cleanses it, collapses the vein wall and allows it to be absorbed naturally by the immune system.
• Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy – Using an ultrasound for a more advanced, highly accurate version of sclerotherapy that helps detect hader to find veins or in circumstances where there are a large number of affected veins.
• Endovenous laser therapy – Ideal for larger, bulging veins, this advanced treatment uses a laser to heat affected veins, causing them to shrink and close. Developed as an alternative to surgical stripping, it’s a much more effective treatment with minimal pain and faster recovery times.
• Endovenous cyanoacrylate super-glue – A new injection based treatment that involves using a special glue to seal the affected vein under ultrasound guidance which seals it. Like the other treatments, the problem vein is eventually absorbed by the immune system.
• Ambulatory phlebectomy – When other treatments are insufficient, this treatment is used to address large bulging veins. The treatment involves making tiny incisions and pulling out the affected veins using a special hook. Since the incisions are so small, stitches aren’t needed afterwards.

These quick, outpatient procedures can be completed in as little as 30 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the treatment, with minimal side effects.

 

Make an Appointment to Treat Arm and Hand Vein Issues in Melbourne

While arm and hand vein issues are not always a serious medical issue, it is important to monitor and stay aware of any changes in your veins, especially if you are experiencing pain and discomfort. Vein Care provides non-surgical, minimally invasive varicose veins treatments for vein conditions in Melbourne, helping people with both medical and cosmetic concerns.

To learn more about varicose veins symptoms or to make an appointment, call us today on 1300 730 100 or contact us online.