Table of Contents:
- Why Are my Veins So Visible?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Visible Veins
- When to Worry About Visible Veins
- Minimally Invasive Treatment for Unhealthy Visible Veins
- Vein Treatment Centers
Have you noticed recently that the veins on your legs are becoming more visible? Perhaps the prominent veins on your legs are looking darker or are now raised above the skin. This may be in conjunction with leg swelling, heaviness, achiness, itching, tingling, or cramps. If you have been experiencing exposed veins on your legs for a while, you might have also noticed areas of skin discoloration or ulceration.
There are a variety of potential causes for visible veins, but the above symptoms can indicate underlying vein disease.
“Vein disease occurs when tiny vein valves in your legs malfunction and cause blood to pool in the lower extremities,” says Dr. Yan Katsnelson, CEO and Founder of USA Vein Clinics.
This can lead to varicose veins, spider veins, restless leg syndrome, and other potentially dangerous health conditions. When you have vein disease, you are also at higher risk for blood clots and venous ulcers.
Below, we explore what it means to have veins showing through your skin or veins that rise above the skin’s surface. The good news is that visible veins are not always cause for concern. They can be indicators of regular exercise, sun exposure, or even hot weather.
We always recommend visiting a vein specialist to evaluate any visible veins of concern. Before your appointment, here’s what you should know about visible veins on legs and other areas of the body.
Why Are My Veins So Visible?
When it comes to establishing the cause of your visible veins, discuss your genetics, lifestyle, and environment with your doctor. Many of these factors influence overall vein health.
Some potential causes of visible veins include:
- Exercise: If you notice visible veins when you exercise, this may be a sign your cardiovascular system is working properly. In particular, weight lifting often results in protruding veins due to low BMI.
- Skin: Individuals with fair skin and hair tend to have more visible veins.
- Age: Skin becomes thinner over time and can contribute to veins showing through the skin. The loss of certain fat as we age also allows veins to further protrude.
- Weight: Because excess weight can place additional strain on your veins, being overweight or obese can cause vein issues.
- Family History: If you have close relatives with visible veins, you are more likely to develop them.
- Hormones: Did you know that hormones can affect your vein health? Hormonal imbalances due to pregnancy, menopause, or other health conditions can result in visible veins. Pregnancy also involves increased blood volume, which leads to the expansion of blood vessels. In this case, visible veins usually resolve after giving birth.
- Weather: Are your veins showing more in the summer? Heat can cause veins to enlarge. It also makes your vascular system work harder overall, causing veins to appear more prominent.
- Prolonged Sitting or Standing: Individuals on their feet or sitting throughout the day are more likely to develop visible veins.
If you believe your visible veins are due to more than just the factors above, you may want to schedule an appointment for further evaluation by a vein specialist. They can help determine your best treatment options.
Symptoms Quiz 5 Quick Questions to Evaluate Your Vein Health
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Visible Veins
Why Do My Veins Stick Out on My Legs?
There are many factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and environmental influences, that can cause veins to show through the skin or visibly protrude above it. To determine the reason for any differences in the visibility of your veins, we recommend consulting a vein specialist.
Why Are My Veins So Visible on My Hands?
Although the lower extremities are a common site for visible veins, they can also occur elsewhere on the body. The genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors discussed above can also impact the health of veins in your hands.
Are Veins Popping Out of my Arms Good or Bad?
It depends on the underlying cause of the visible veins on your arms. If your veins are protruding due to regular exercise, this is probably good. However, problematic veins can occur in your arms, wrists, hands, and many other regions of the body.
If Blood Is Red, Why Are My Veins Different Colors?
There’s no doubt that this is a common, but confusing question. Primarily, it has to do with how we perceive the colors of the vein more so than what the colors are themselves. Take a detailed look at the reasons in our popular blog post, Why Are My Veins Blue? or Why are my veins green?
When to Worry About Visible Veins
If you have visible veins and are at risk of developing vein disease, you should reach out to one of our vein specialists. You are considered high-risk if you have a family history of varicose veins, a job where you stand or sit for prolonged periods of time or are over age 50. To schedule an appointment, click below.
If you have visible veins, we suggest that you remain on the lookout for:
Spider Veins
Spider veins are tiny, colorful veins that usually are located on the legs or face. They develop in a spider web pattern and may appear red, purple, or blue. Although usually painless, they are an early sign of vein disease.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are enlarged, dark blue, visible veins that protrude above your skin’s surface. Although sometimes considered merely an aesthetic issue, these exposed veins can cause significant pain and discomfort in your legs. Common varicose vein symptoms include heavy legs, swelling, itching, or burning. Varicose veins normally develop due to underlying vein disease.
Blood Clots
Did you know that visible veins can be caused by, or develop into, a blood clot? The presence of a blood clot can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. When left untreated, a blood clot can break off and cause a pulmonary embolism.
There are two main types of blood clots: Superficial Thrombophlebitis (ST) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
Common symptoms of both include leg pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, warmth, and cramping. Symptoms are usually located in only one leg.
Skin Changes
Along with causing visible veins, vein disease can lead to a range of related skin issues. These include discoloration, itching, burning, rashes, and venous ulcers. Venous ulcers are open, non-healing wounds that occur on the legs near varicose veins. They are a sign of advanced vein disease and can put you at risk for serious skin or blood infections
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Unhealthy Visible Veins
Whether you are concerned about unsightly veins showing through skin or painful varicose veins that limit activities, there’s help available. If you want to make your veins less visible on your legs, a variety of minimally invasive treatment options exist.
All of our procedures aim to close off malfunctioning veins and reroute blood flow to surrounding, healthy veins. Most treatments take less than 30 minutes, depending on the number of veins being treated, and allow you to return home immediately afterward.
If this all sounds overwhelming, don’t worry, we are here to help you to develop an individualized plan of care. Together, we may decide on one or more of the following:
Endovenous Laser Treatment
During Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), a specialist makes a tiny incision in the skin using a small laser fiber catheter. Ultrasound is used to precisely position the laser, which is heated up to close off the diseased vein. EVLT can treat varicose veins of any size that are located close to the surface of the skin.
ClariVein
ClariVein® treats varicose or spider veins without the use of laser energy. It is a catheter-based treatment that combines mechanical and chemical methods to treat malfunctioning veins.
Varithena
Varithena is a foam-based treatment designed to treat diseased veins. It is often used to collapse varicose veins located in the Great Saphenous Vein (GSV) or surrounding region.
Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy
Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy involves using ultrasound imaging to inject a sclerosant solution into problematic veins. This irritates the vessel’s walls and causes it to collapse and seal off. After treatment, the diseased vein tissue is naturally absorbed by the body.
Visual Sclerotherapy
Similar to Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy, visual sclerotherapy involves sclerosant injections and is used to treat spider veins located near the surface of the skin.
VenaSeal™
The latest innovative treatment offered by USA Vein Clinics, VenaSeal™ closure system provides immediate vein closure, which allows for quick relief from symptoms. A small amount of specially formulated medical adhesive is delivered to the affected vein through a small catheter: the adhesive aims to seal, or close, the diseased vein. Once the affected vein is sealed off, blood flow is rerouted to nearby, healthy veins.
Vein Disease Treatment at USA Vein Clinics
At USA Vein Clinics, our specialists offer outpatient treatment that can help lessen your symptoms and improve your quality of life. You’ll find us nearby as we have over 100 convenient USA Vein Clinic locations. We also want you to know that we accept most major forms of health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.
If you notice your veins are becoming darker or more prominent, we encourage you to prioritize your vein health. You can schedule an appointment online or call us to consult with one of our leading vascular specialists. If you prefer, you can request a telemedicine virtual visit.
Interested in reading more of our blogs?
- USA VEIN CLINICS: RESPONDING TO COVID-19
- CAN VARICOSE VEINS GO AWAY?
- WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR TREATS VARICOSE VEINS?
- HOW DO YOU FIX POOR CIRCULATION?
- HOW TO GET RID OF VARICOSE VEINS AND SPIDER VEINS?
Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Yan Katsnelson is a philanthropist, business owner, and highly skilled cardiac surgeon. He is the Founder and CEO of USA Vein Clinics, which is part of USA Clinics Group, the parent company of USA Fibroid Centers, USA Vascular Centers, and USA Oncology Centers, with more than 100 facilities nationwide. Dr. Yan has established himself as a strong advocate for accessibility and affordability of the most advanced medical care close to home. His mission is to create a positive experience for each patient with compassionate, personalized, and expert care.
