Developing varicose veins in your teens certainly happens. As you know most people develop varicose veins a few decades later, but it is not uncommon to develop varicose veins in your teens.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

While you are certainly on the young end of the spectrum for patients with venous insufficiency, it is not unheard of to have teenagers present with vein disease. The disease is primarily hereditary, so you can look to your parents or grandparents to thank. Fortunately, the technique of endovenous ablation allows us to treat any age patient with a minimally invasive treatment and get them back to their normal activity within a day or so.

Venous disease will not improve over time, rather the signs and symptoms are likely to progress due to gravitational pressure in the veins, with faulty valves leading to increased venous pressure in the leg veins. This is the primary issue: venous hypertension. It leads to side branches dilating or unwinding like a snake (varicose veins), edema or swelling, and eventually skin changes such as discoloration or thickening of the skin around the lower leg in the more advanced stages.

My recommendation is to have an evaluation by a qualified and experienced vascular-trained surgeon.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

This is not normal, but you are not the only 16 year old with varicose veins. The youngest person I have treated for venous insufficiency was 8 years old.

Female patients with family history of venous insufficiency who are on birth control pills can have venous insufficiency at an earlier age. Family history is a significant factor, so is being overweight.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Varicose veins can occur at any age, and my youngest patient was 11 years old. The most common causes for varicose veins at a young age are genetics or trauma. Occasionally, there may be congenital reasons for the development of varicose veins in teenagers. See a vein specialist for a full evaluation.

Published on Jul 11, 2012