Where Do Spider Veins Come From?

Spider Vein Treatment

Where do spider veins come from? The simple answer is from genes! There is a known genetic predisposition to developing varicose veins or spider veins. Simply put, if your Mom (or Dad) had spider veins, you are likely to get them as well! Certainly not every child of a parent who has problem veins is going to develop them so there must be some other factors involved, right? Of course! Nothing is ever simple and straightforward! At the Vein Institute of New Jersey in Westfield and Clifton we are constantly asked, “Why do my legs look and feel like my mother’s legs when my sister or brother have perfect legs?” That is because, while there is a genetic basis for most vein problems (spider veins or varicose veins), your everyday life (commonly referred to as your environment) has a great deal to do whether or not you will develop varicose and spider veins.

For example, there is an association between pregnancy and varicose veins. Women who have been pregnant (and have the genetic or familial tendency) are more likely to get these vein conditions than women who have not had children. This effect seems to be the result of hormonal influence rather than the added weight of pregnancy. This is much the same explanation as to why women are more likely to develop spider veins and varicose veins than their brothers! Of course, the hair on men’s legs can certainly hide more than on the shaven leg of a woman.

Additionally, women who spend a great deal of time on their feet are more likely to develop varicose or spider veins than those who are more sedentary, an important factor in what causes spider veins or varicose veins.   Vein problems seem to occur more often in people who stand in one place for prolonged periods of time—perhaps a surgeon at an operating table or a hairdresser at a station. In these situations, blood is not pumped out of the leg frequently when compared to a person who is walking. Understanding why you developed the telangiectasia or varicose vein may satisfy your curiosity but it will not, unfortunately, make the veins go away!  Come visit us in any one of our eight (8) convenient locations in Clifton, Landing, Livingston, Morristown, Princeton, Rockaway, Shrewsbury and  or Westfield. We can provide answers and provide treatment for veins all in one sitting.