Vein Treatment Q&A
52%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
23 Reviews
Vein Treatmentbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Vein Treatment Cost: $725

Learn about Vein Treatment

196 people and 139 doctors are talking about Vein Treatment

Get Free Email Updates

Do Tight Clothes Cause Varicose Veins?

asked 3 years ago by NerfArrowstorm in Bethesda
Latest answer by Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Question viewed 2,629 times
Tags: causes, clothes, varicose veins

Do tight fitting clothing (Bike Shorts, compression shorts) contribute to varicose or spider veins? Thanks!

5 answers to Do Tight Clothes Cause Varicose Veins?

+2

Tight clothing does not cause varicose veins

The previous answer doesn't make sense at all because we ask people to wear compression garments to reduce development of spider and reticular veins. So, tight pants will not cause spider and varicose veins. You would have to be a hip hopper and wear your pants at the level of the groin to cause venous obstruction by pressure and this would not be practical for one and you would need a lot of pressure - so, the answer is an emphatic NO. You would need a sandbag on the groin to cause... more
Hratch Karamanoukian, MD

Buffalo General Surgeon
+1

Causes of varicose veins and spider veins

Tight clothing is not the main cause of varicose veins.  Varicose veins are caused by genetics, occupation, venous reflux, the environment, trauma, and hormonal changes in the body. 
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Possible for tight clothes to cause varicose veins

Anything that obstructs blood return from the legs causes increased back pressure, and this could lead to vericose veins and spider veins. Also, standing in one place without moving your leg muscles will contribute to this as well.
Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Varicose veins and tight fitting clothing

I could see how tight clothing around the thighs (probably depends how tight) might actually contribute to varicose veins. The reason why gravity is such a big factor in promoting varicose veins is the increased pressure within the blood vessels of the lower extremities. Tight clothing around the thighs can, in theory, impede the return of blood flowing from the legs back to the heart, increase the pressure in those veins, and thereby promote the development of varicose veins. Use of... more
Bryan K. Chen, MD

San Diego Dermatologist

Ask a question