What Causes Spider Veins

[isis]

My mother has spider veins, she has not always had them though. That makes me worry that I am going to get them as I get older as well. Can anyone tell me what causes spider veins? I am hopping that if I know what causes them I can use that knowledge to help me prevent myself from getting them.

[Zola]

My mother has spider veins, she has not always had them though. That makes me worry that I am going to get them as I get older as well. Can anyone tell me what causes spider veins? I am hopping that if I know what causes them I can use that knowledge to help me prevent myself from getting them.

Preventive measures include avoiding pressure on the legs. Avoid prolonged sitting or standing. At night, I try to elevate my legs to facilitate blood flow towards the heart. I used to cross my legs when sitting, but since I've had varicose and spider veins, I avoid sitting in this manner.

[Arya]

I have varicose veins, and as far as I remember, they started appearing when I was in my late twenties. My dermatologist told me that I have to blame genetics for these ugly dilated veins. I think it's true. My mom and all her sisters do suffer from this condition...If we go into the physiology of the the condition, varicose veins and spider veins are caused by weak valves. Veins are supposed to carry blood from the body parts back to the heart. When the valves are damaged or weak, the blood flows back into the veins and pool in the legs thus causing the dilated appearance.

I have spider veins and my husband has varicose veins. I always thought these were purely cosmetic annoyances, but weak and damaged valves could create health problems down the road.

[tappankenya]

The causes for spider veins cannot be isolated into one or two. There are different causes under different conditions. Exposure to extreme temperature variations, wind and sun damage, use of oral contraceptives, hormonal issues particularly in women, aging, and genetic predisposition are among the most common causes for spider veins.