Reasons For Bulging Veins and What To Do

Have you ever noticed an enlarged, twisted vein underneath your skin? Don’t worry too much if you have – veins popping out like this is fairly common and usually nothing to worry about.

It’s always a good idea to learn more about your body and better understand what’s normal and what isn’t.

That’s why today we’re going to go over some of the reasons why a vein might begin bulging.

What Causes Veins To Bulge And Is It Bad When Veins Stick Out?

Generally speaking, most veins bulging in legs simply turn out to be varicose veins. In this case, the bulging occurs due to blood pooling and straining against the walls of a vein.

Occasionally, however, a vein bulges due to another reason. Here are some other common reasons for veins bulging:

Aging – As we age, our skin tends to lose collagen and elasticity, which leads to it becoming very thin. The result of very thin skin is that veins can easily be seen underneath the skin and often appear enlarged.

Muscle Mass – Fat actually helps hide veins most of the time, so the less fat you have, the more pronounced your veins will look. So you might see more bulging veins after weight loss. In addition to this, exercise, in general, can also make veins bulge. This bulging is because heavy activity causes our body to circulate more blood. So if you’ve ever seen a bodybuilder at the gym with heavily protruding veins, you now know why.

Being Underweight – As mentioned above, fat really does conceal veins. So someone underweight is more likely to have veins showing through their skin.

Blood Clots – Very rarely, a blood clot might form, in which case it could cause some bulging. This reason is not very common, however.

Bulging Varicose Veins

As mentioned earlier, one of the most common reasons for a vein bulging is that it has become a varicose vein.

Varicose veins are mainly random in occurrence and are usually not due to anything specific that you’ve done. Some common risk factors include a family history of varicose veins, pregnancy, excess weight, and gender (female).

Fortunately, however, varicose veins are largely a cosmetic issue and typically cause little to no physical harm to your body.

Bulging Veins In Legs

Legs are one of the most common areas for people to experience bulging veins. This is because varicose veins are very common in the leg area – especially for females. Fortunately, there are several ways to combat these veins, so don’t lose hope if you’ve spotted a couple.

For example, venous treatments such as sclerotherapy and venous ablation are commonly used procedures to treat this pesky concern. 

Related: Varicose Vein Removal at VeinSolutions

Bulging Veins In Hands

Unlike the leg area, hand veins are actually more likely to occur due to non-varicose-related reasons. As we mentioned earlier, age is a particularly common culprit. Since the skin on our hands is particularly prone to getting thin with age, veins are very likely to start peeking through as we get older.

Bulging Veins In Feet

Just like the hands and legs, feet can also develop bulging veins. Most of the time, these veins are just age or varicose related and aren’t likely to cause any physical harm. As our skin gets older, it gets thinner and less elastic, making veins more visible. To add, as your feet are at the very bottom of your body, these veins will have more pressure on them than veins higher up on your body.

Having said that, if you notice swelling or discoloration of the surrounding tissue, it’s best to consult with a doctor as soon as possible. This could be a sign of something more serious like a blood clot or other vein dysfunction.

How To Get Rid Of Bulging Veins

If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your veins, don’t hesitate to consult with a vein specialist. When you come in to talk to a vein specialist at Vein Solutions™ in Flint or Lapeer, we’ll provide a thorough vein screening and consultation.

Together, we’ll figure out what’s causing your bulging veins and then the best solutions to get rid of them.

Usually, cases of building veins in the legs end up being varicose veins. But, in the event that you have a rare vascular condition, our vascular specialists will provide you with recommendations and the precise care you need.

Following your consultation, you will most likely be given a treatment plan. Here are some common vein treatments that may be recommended to you:

Varicose Vein Treatments in Flint & Lapeer, MI

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a tried-and-true method for breaking down unhealthy veins. Not only is this treatment quick and straightforward, but it’s fairly affordable as well. During the procedure, a solution is injected into the damaged vein, causing it to close up. After the vein is sealed, it begins breaking down and reabsorbing back into the body.

Learn More About Sclerotherapy at VeinSolutions

Venous Ablation

Similar to sclerotherapy, venous ablation is also used to close up a vein. Unlike sclerotherapy, however, ablation uses energy to cauterize the vein. After the vein is gone, blood flow simply redirects to a healthy vein.

Learn more about Venous Ablation at VeinSolutions

Microphlebectomy

Unlike the two procedures above, microphlebectomy involves making small incisions and extracting the vein. Since microphlebectomy doesn’t require time to let the vein fade away, the results are immediately visible.

Aside from these treatments, however, there are a handful of other at-home remedies that can be used to alleviate the appearance of bulging veins.

Learn more about Microphlebectomy at VeinSolutions 

Here are a few easy things you can do on a daily basis:

Make-Up And Tanning Lotions – Try a tanning lotion or makeup to cover up the affected veins. Do not, however, try to conceal the veins by tanning under natural sunlight. The heat from sunlight or even a tanning bed can aggravate symptoms

Compression Socks And Stockings – Ask your doctor about compression socks and stockings. These can help by providing support for your veins and encouraging healthy blood flow. The best part is that they’re an easy way to manage physical and cosmetic symptoms without breaking the bank. 

Please keep in mind that despite these tips, the only way to permanently get rid of varicose veins is through medical intervention.

Commonly Asked Questions About Varicose Veins

Here are a few more answers to commonly asked questions.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins aren’t specifically caused by anything, although certain factors can contribute. For example, you’re more likely to develop varicose veins if it runs in your family. Additionally, pregnancy or excess weight might increase your risk for varicose veins as well.

How To Prevent Varicose Veins?

There’s no sure-fire way to prevent varicose veins – especially considering that gender and genetics are two of the biggest risk factors associated with this condition.

Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and drinking plenty of water may help somewhat.

Are Varicose Veins Dangerous?

Generally speaking, no. Varicose veins have very little chance of negatively impacting your physical health. Nevertheless, you should always let your doctor know if you notice anything off about your veins.

We hope that this article helped you learn a little more about bulging veins. Please feel free to reach out or visit our F.A.Q if you still have questions. 

When To Worry About Varicose Veins?

Although varicose veins are typically not harmful to your health, it’s still important to stay vigilant of any unusual symptoms. Since many health conditions can lead to discomfort in the extremities, it can be easy to misdiagnose yourself. That’s why it’s particularly important to see a vein expert that can do a full consultation and provide you with a professional diagnosis.

VeinSolutions™ at Michigan Vascular Center

Don’t hesitate to reach out to a vein specialist if you’re concerned about your veins. Here at VeinSolutions™, we offer FREE vein screenings. This is so that you can come in for a risk-free consultation and figure out what your treatment plan might look like before fully committing.

Call or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment. Our clinic will get back to you as soon as possible, and we’ll get you set up with a FREE vein screening.

Our vein clinic currently has locations in Flint, MI, and Lapeer, MI. Regardless of where you live, however, a trip up to our clinic is well worth the high-quality healthcare that we provide. Above and beyond quality however, the most important thing we can offer you is a team of kind and caring healthcare providers. Our doctors and nurses strive to make each and every one of your visits as comfortable as absolutely possible.

We are proud to have served the Michigan community for over 50 years, and we hope that you’ll let us serve you as well.