Veiny, Wrinkled Hands? Shave Off Years With These Non-Invasive Tricks
You don't have to get surgery.
Hands are vital tools. We use them for for communicating and comforting, as well as cooking, cleaning, scrubbing, washing, gardening, and all of the other chores on our to-do lists. Over the course of a lifetime, our hands really take a beating. This, combined with the fact that the skin on our hands is fairly thin, is why they tend to show signs of aging before other parts of our body — and one of the clearest signs of aging in hands is bulging, prominent veins.
Aging is both a gift and a badge of honor. It’s proof you’ve lived. But if veiny hands are something you’d rather not deal with, good news: There are methods to make the veins in your hands less apparent. Keep reading to learn more about how you can shave years off your mitts.
Why do our hands get veiny as we age?
Think of two separate hands: One of a child, and one of an older person. What is one of the most noticeable differences between the two? Chances are, the older hand you pictured has bulging, visible veins all throughout the back — but why is that? It’s not that our veins get larger — but rather that our skin actually thins as we age, says the Vein Institute, which makes our veins more apparent. Other natural parts of the aging process, like changes in skin elasticity and blood pressure, can make them more visible as well. Like thinning hair and fine lines, veiny hands are an inevitable part of aging that many would prefer to avoid, but they aren’t typically cause for medical concern.
How To Make Veiny Hands Smoother
If hand veins make you self-conscious, you aren’t alone. Veiny hands aren’t wrong or bad, but if you want to smoothen their appearance, there are multiple avenues you can take. Unfortunately, the only guaranteed way to get rid of veiny hands is through surgical procedures. One of the most popular vein-minimizing surgeries is sclerotherapy, a process in which liquid foam is injected directly into veins, causing them to disappear. If you’re not interested in getting surgery, though, here are some easy, non-invasive at-home tips that may make your hand veins less prominent.
Stay hydrated.
Dehydration can make aging on skin and hands more obvious, say the beauty pros at Be Vivid You. The kicker? Our thirst sensations diminish as we age, too, making older adults more likely to be dehydrated than their younger counterparts. One way to tell if you’re dehydrated is to do the pinch test. Pinch the skin on the back of your hand, and if it doesn’t bounce back quickly, you may be in need of hydration. Sip a cup or two of water to get your liquid levels where they need to be.
Keep moisturized.
Routine use of a moisturizing lotion will not only make your skin softer, but it will also help visually shrink your veins. Using lotion aids in moisture retention, which keeps skin plump and firm, potentially making veins look smaller, according to Be Vivid You. With so many hydrating creams on the market, it can be hard to choose one. Why not try one from Dolly Parton’s favorite brand, Olay (Buy from Walmart.com, $5.97)? If it’s good enough for Dolly, it’s good enough for us.
Do hand stretches.
Regular hand and wrist stretches can improve blood flow, which may reduce the appearance of large hand veins, says The Kimmel Institute. To try it: Press your palms together and raise elbows up and away from your body. Once you feel tension in your inner wrist, drop wrists to your stomach.
Will you try these tricks for smoothing out veiny hands? While you’re at it, check out other ways to look younger, like face yoga, or learn to embrace your aging body with tips from a gray-haired model.
