Some People Have Veins That Show Through Their Skin: Here's Why

Oct 26, 2018

The human body is full of veins that are part of a brilliant, complex system to deliver blood with oxygen and fuel around our bodies. The veins are full of one-way valves that keep everything moving forward. This beautiful system is out of sight and out of mind--normally.

You don’t think about your veins until they make themselves known, usually by popping up and becoming visible through your skin. Most of the time this is nothing to worry about, but sometimes it’s a sign of serious trouble. So, why can we see our veins sometimes?

Human being come in all shades. If you have less melanin in your skin, there is less color there to block out the view of your veins, making them more visible than your darker toned friends. Doctors also say that the skin thins as you age, meaning that eventually there is just less material between your veins and the surface of your skin, also making your veins easier to see than they were in your younger years.

If you just pumped some major iron or blasted out your cardio for the day, your muscles just got worked hard. They bulge a bit during and after workouts, and blood flow to the area is increased. Your bulging biceps are pushing the veins towards the surface of your skin, and they’re filled with lots of blood, both factors make your veins much more prominent and easy to see.

Expecting a bundle of joy sometime soon? Pregnant women have more blood coursing through their veins for themselves and the new life they’re carrying. This extra blood crowds into the veins, causing them to expand and push out, becoming more visible as they carry the extra load of blood around the body.

Older folks lose some of the fat layers that are naturally in our skin. If you have a low amount of body fat overall, that layer of fat in your skin is already thinner than average. Not only does this missing insulation make you more prone to shiver on chilly days, but it also means there’s not much there to block our view of your veins.

Most of the time, visible veins are nothing to worry about, but certain factors should send you to the doctor. If your veins themselves are swollen, if there are ulcers near them, or if they become visible at the same time that you experience chest pain or shortness of breath, please don’t ignore these signs of serious health problems, go get yourself checked out. These can be signs of thrombophlebitis, venous diseases, or varicose veins.

Know someone who has visible veins? Are they self-conscious about it? Pass this along to help them find out why they can see their veins!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!