A doctor talks about Angelina Jolie's prominent veins

[muchlove]

Globe-trotting actor Angelina Jolie not only showed off her swelling tummy, but also swelling veins during a visit to Haiti in the Caribbean.

And experts say it is actually Jolie's fat-free figure that has made the condition worse.

Just days after publicists confirmed that Jolie, a sponsor of several humanitarian causes, was expecting a child with her actor partner Brad Pitt, the A-list couple visited the sweltering capital of Haiti, Port au Prince.

While the almost rope-like appearance of the blood vessels was striking, medical experts said it was a common condition of pregnancy known as venous dilation.

Professor Michael Bennett from the Royal Hospital for Women said that venous dilation was caused by an expecting mother's increased blood supply, the extra body heat generated during pregnancy and being in a hot climate.

But the swelling would not be noticeable on someone with a lot of body fat.

"In somebody who is as slim as she is, you are likely to see the veins reasonably prominently in most circumstances when she is warm," Professor Bennett said.

"The pregnancy is producing heat and what she has to do physiologically is get that blood to the surface of her body to get rid of that heat."

Enlarging of the veins is also needed just to cope with the extra blood supply during pregnancy, Professor Bennett said.

"The blood volume goes up by close to 50per cent in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy," he said.

Jolie and Pitt have not revealed when their child is due, although she is said to be five months pregnant.

The pair were in Haiti on the invitation of Haitian-born hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean.

[FierceKiten]

Her veins have always popped out, even before she got knocked up.

[savansa]

I noticed them before the pregnancy. You can see all the tendons and shit in her wrists too.

[FierceKiten]

Originally Posted by savansa

I noticed them before the pregnancy. You can see all the tendons and shit in her wrists too.

Dont forget her bones too!

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by FierceKiten

Her veins have always popped out, even before she got knocked up.

True. I think it just goes with being so skinny. It's quite scary on a woman. My BF also has prominent veins on his skinny arms, but on him I find it hot

[FierceKiten]

Originally Posted by Barbara

My BF also has prominent veins on his skinny arms, but on him I find it hot.

I find that most attractive on a man.

[muchlove]

She did have them before, but not as prominent as they are now. When she gains weight, they go away.

I've seen veins like that many times on skinny guys... especially the thin but muscular type. I've always found them really sexy!

[Tiara]

Some peoplr are veinier than others, I think the fact that she's so skinny just makes them look worse.

[Tenaj]

^^ It's true! Why are they so attractive on a man? I love them. On a woman however I'm sorry I think they look awful. They look masculine IMO

[FierceKiten]

Sarah J. Parker's hands and feet are filled with bigg veins.

I thought I was odd for liking that on a man. It just shows how masculine and tuff they are to me. Very sexy!

[Barbara]

Originally Posted by Tenaj

Why are they so attractive on a man?

It's funny, I thought I was weird for liking it but I see I'm really not the only one
I couldn't explain why, but I associate them with strength.

[Tiara]

Veins on muscualr men can be sexy but on skinny men I find them the same as veins on skinny women - sickening!

[moomies]

I think veins on a guy's hands are kinda sexy but I also like chubby hands/fingers. Cute. (ok, I'm a weirdo...)

[calendargurl]

Originally Posted by moomies

I think veins on a guy's hands are kinda sexy but I also like chubby hands/fingers. Cute. (ok, I'm a weirdo...)

you like sausage fingers?!

[Voodoo Child]

My gran has the same veins. It just means thin blood. It is horrible to have though as the older you get, the more prominent they become and each time you bump yourself, half your skin falls off.