Hand veins tend to become more common with age, but fortunately, treatment for this condition can make hand veins less noticeable and rejuvenate the overall appearance of the hands.
Here’s what to expect from vein treatment for the hands and how to contact North Shore Vein Center on Long Island to request a consultation.
What Causes Unsightly Hand Veins?
Hand veins are rarely a major health concern, but they can often be unsightly and contribute to an aging appearance.
Aging may be the most common cause of unsightly hand veins, as the skin becomes thinner and loses its elasticity with time. Valves in the hand veins may also weaken over time, causing blood to pool in the veins, which then expand.
Other potential causes of hand veins include:
- Hot weather. Veins typically expand in hot weather to promote greater blood flow and reduce internal body temperature.
- Exercise. Physical activity can temporarily spike blood pressure and push veins closer to the surface of the skin, making them more noticeable.
- Low body weight. Having less fat tissues on the hands can make veins more pronounced.
- Genetics. Hand veins and other vein conditions can run in families.
- Vein conditions. Varicose veins, superficial thrombophlebitis, and deep vein thrombosis are various conditions that may also cause hand veins.
Different Types of Hand Veins
Hand veins can be tiny and barely visible under the skin, or they can be large, bulging, and painful. Different types of hand veins include:
- Spider veins. Spider veins are thin, tiny veins that resemble the legs of spiders and are usually blue, purple, or red in color.
- Varicose veins. Varicose veins are large, twisted, bulging veins that have malfunctioning valves and may cause symptoms, including pain, itching, and burning in the hands.
- Phlebitis. Phlebitis is inflammation in a vein that may cause it to bulge.
- Superficial thrombophlebitis. Similar to phlebitis, this vein condition occurs when a blood clot triggers inflammation.
- DVT. DVT in the hand can occur when a blood clot located deep in a vein in an arm causes the vein to become inflamed and bulging.
Sclerotherapy: What It Is and How It Can Help
Hand veins can be treated using a minimally invasive procedure called sclerotherapy. During this vein treatment, a solution called a sclerosant is injected into specific hand veins. The sclerosant irritates the walls of the veins and causes them to collapse. Blood flow is then redirected to nearby healthy veins, and the unsightly hand veins gradually fade from view.
Sclerotherapy for hand veins usually requires two treatment sessions spaced two to four weeks apart. It often produces satisfactory results that can be noticeable right away.
Benefits of Sclerotherapy and Recovery
Sclerotherapy involves the use of a fine, tiny needle that can barely be felt during treatment and, therefore, causes minimal to no pain. Treatment sessions usually take no more than 30 minutes, which means appointments can be conveniently scheduled at any time, including during work lunch breaks.
Sclerotherapy produces no downtime, though compression gloves typically need to be worn for up to two weeks to reduce inflammation and promote the healing process. This vein treatment is highly effective at reducing the appearance of hand veins and can go a long way toward boosting confidence in those who have been living with unsightly hand veins.
Hand veins may be common, but they also can be successfully treated and eliminated with help from a vein specialist. A vein specialist can also examine other problematic veins on the body—including facial veins and varicose veins on the legs—and recommend the best treatment options.
North Shore Vein Center in Long Island offers a variety of treatments for hand veins and other conditions, including sclerotherapy. Contact North Shore Vein Center today at (516) 869-8346 to request an initial vein consultation and learn more about your treatment options.