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Our veins present a smart system of one-way valves that perform an important function of delivering oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart. Normally, we don’t think about our veins that much until we see them popping up under the skin. If your veins became visible and you can’t figure out why this has happened, don’t worry. Prominent veins may sometimes tell us about certain health problems, but in many cases, they have natural causes that are not dangerous for your health.

Here at Bright Side we’ve studied the reasons why our veins may become visible and this is what we’ve learned.

1. Visible veins may be just normal for your skin type.

Veins specialists say that people with fair skin are more likely to have visible veins than those with darker skin tones. Thin skin may also be a reason. As we age, the layer of fat under the skin becomes thinner and thinner. This is why elderly people often have prominent veins on their hands, legs, and other parts of the body. Besides, some people’s veins naturally lie closer to the surface of their skin.

2. Veins may become prominent after exercising.

© unknown / Imgur  

Popping veins during a workout is normal. When you exercise, your muscles work, they bulge and push your veins toward the surface of the skin making them visible. After exercising, your muscles retract and your veins become less visible.

3. Many women observe popped up veins during pregnancy.

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Visible veins is an issue that many pregnant women face and there’s nothing to worry about. The blood volume of a pregnant woman is higher than that of a non-pregnant woman, and the veins are trying to keep up with this increased amount of blood. The network of vessels is working overtime to transport the increased blood volume around the woman’s body to nourish the fetus. If you experience visible veins during pregnancy, but you’ve never had them before, they will probably ‘disappear’ after delivery.

4. Bulging veins are normal if you have low body fat.

Low body fat may also be a reason for your veins to become visible. Thin people have a thin layer of fat under their skin and this thin fat layer can’t fully cover the veins which makes them more prominent.

5. There are cases when prominent veins are a reason to visit the doctor.

As we told you above, in many cases prominent veins are normal and healthy and there’s nothing to worry about. However, if popped up veins are accompanied by other symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, ulcers near veins, or swollen veins, you should visit a doctor. These symptoms may be caused by health problems such as varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, and venous diseases, and they should not be ignored.

Have you ever had prominent veins? Did it worry you? Tell us in the comments!

Preview photo credit Shutterstock