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The thin, twist-and-turning veins get their name from resembling spider legs. And if your mom—or someone else in the family—has them, there's a good chance you'll get them, as well; the most common cause is genetics (although you won't necessarily get them if your mom did).
Certain lifestyle choices can up your risk for developing spider veins, too.
"Smoking, obesity, and hormonal birth control can all contribute to the formation of spider veins," says Luis Navarro, M.D., a board-certified surgeon and the director of the Vein Treatment Center in New York City. "Smoking and obesity can restrict circulation, which in turn causes vessels to swell, which causes spider veins."
