Keep Your Head Up: How to Address Veins in the Forehead & Temple

If you’ve ever been steaming mad, or if you’ve ever struggled to open a pickle jar, chances are the veins in your forehead or temple “pop” to the surface. In your mature years, they will likely protrude more than before. It’s perfectly normal that some people have forehead veins that are not only visible, but also slightly protruding. To help you understand when you should and shouldn’t worry about your head veins, here are some tips to remember.

Pressure causes veins to bulge: Just like how veins in your arm come to the surface when you’re lifting heavy objects, the veins in your forehead will bulge when there’s pressure in your head. Common causes are laughing, sneezing, coughing, crying, vomiting, and straining, and while severe coughing, vomiting, and sneezing may indicate an ailment, the veins in your head are likely a result of the illness, not the cause.

Stress shows in the head: Stressful times aren’t just a metaphorical headache. If you’re undergoing a significant life change, your forehead veins may show it. This change may be circumstantial, like a big test or a busy time at work, or physical, like pregnancy. In either case, the veins are rarely a cause for concern, but the stress should be monitored to prevent high blood pressure or other risks in the long term.

Weight loss can bring veins up: Visible head veins are an often unforeseen side effect of weight loss. And while many patients are thrilled to size down their clothes, they aren’t as excited to see these veins emerge. Fortunately, the appearance of these veins often subsides over time as the body adapts to the change.

It’s a natural part of aging: As the skin naturally thins over the years, veins will push it upwards more easily. This too is an adjustment for many people, but again does not indicate anything dangerous or unhealthy.

Head veins can be treated: Many patients opt to treat the veins in their forehead or temple for cosmetic purposes, and there are two popular methods. The first, laser treatment, uses high-frequency electrical currents to damage blood vessels which then prompts the body to “heal” the area and absorb remnants. The second, sclerotherapy, involves injecting a saline solution that irritates the vessel causing it to spasm and close. This is the same procedure we commonly use for spider and varicose veins in the leg.

Head pain should always be addressed: While visible blood vessels on the head are rarely a cause for concern, head injuries and/or blood vessel dysfunction can be serious. If blood vessels in your head are accompanied by throbbing, severe headaches, lightheadedness, dizziness, double or blurry vision, numbness, vomiting, or any other ill feeling, please call your doctor immediately!

At Capitol Vein and Laser, we help patients address veins on other parts of the body with the same expertise we use for spider and varicose veins found on legs. Whatever the cause or concern, we will help find the solution that best fits your needs. Please give us a call at 866-695-8346 to schedule a consultation today!