Are varicose veins hereditary?

Varicose veins tend to be inherited and become more prominent as the person ages.

I think they can be.
I have a friend that has had trouble with them, several surgeries and she is in her mid-50’s and her mother has the same issues. She is a tall, thin, very attractive woman and has never been overweight.

I am 52 in a few weeks and have zero. One never knows.

None of the women in my family have or have had them.

Heredity is a major risk factor for the development of varicose veins. We have a great page on our website that discusses Risk factors for Varicose Veins and Spider Veins. I’m not sure if you’re asking about yourself or not, but with our male patients (they are much more common than you’d think) the cause is usually related to heredity, and is typically exacerbated by their professions (e.g. prolonged standing).

The predisposition is hereditary but how bad they can get is environmental. My very skinny grandmother worked as a waitress for 50 years and often worked overtime. She also crosses her legs when she sits. She basically has more purple on her legs (mostly from spider veins) than flesh color. Her daughter didn’t work on her feet as much and didn’t cross her legs, so she has some.

As a teenager, I got nervous about having purple legs, so did my research and that’s when I learned that if I was a waitress for 50 years, I’ll have a chance of looking her. Since I’m not a waitress and have my mom’s genes as well, I only have one little web on my ankle that looks like a tattoo.

Like most things. But there are steps that can be taken to help minimize them.

I’m 22 and of average weight (very tall) already have some mild spider veins. Sadly they seem to be rather hereditary and despite all the steps I take to prevent them I still have broken capillaries in my legs. You can help them with treatments like sclerotherapy. (better for larger veins) or laser treatments (mixed results and may take multiple treatments). I’ve tried both with mixed results. I’ve heard that vein wave and veingogh are better options for small ones so I’ll try those next. Hope this helps at least a little. Good luck!

Also: If you’re looking to cover them try Dermablend!

I am a 62 year old male. My father had surgery for various veins in his mid-50’s, He worked as a restaurant cook and was on his feet all of his working life.
I, on the other hand, am an accountant, as sedentary a profession as there can be.

My great-grandmother, his maternal grandmother, died of a varicose vein haemorrhage when she was only 34 back in 1897.

Wanted to see if this ran in families.

Thanks

1897 was a tough year…

Sure was for my family. Got this from some family research, her death certificate has that as her cause of death. Tough on my orphaned 7 year old grandmother and her younger brothers.

SRM

Well yes, the potential for them to pop up are genetically passed down. Almost everyone will get them eventually when they age up.

My mother aged up (sic) until her death in May at 96. She had some minor spider veins but nothing really noticeable or debilitating. She did have very dry skin, however.

Yes, they are hereditary.