Broken Capillaries On My Face. How Did I Get Them?

You’ve noticed a group of small red squiggly lines on your face that won’t go away. What are they? How did you get them? Most likely, the squiggly lines are a bunch of broken capillaries just under the skin. The medical term for this is Telangiectasia Rosacea (TR).

There are a few causes of this condition. The small veins just under the surface of your skin are very delicate. An injury, scrubbing too hard while washing your face, sun damage, smoking and alcoholism are all preventable causes of broken capillaries. Unfortunately, TR won’t repair itself so prevention is key. Other, less avoidable causes are heredity, ageing due to thinning skin, and sometimes TR is associated with rosacea.

There are some solutions that you can explore if you do find these tiny lines on your face. In a mild case, you can use concealer to cover the problem area. This is the least expensive option. If you feel that concealer isn’t doing the job, then you will want to consult with a vein specialist in your area. These professionals can work with you on a more permanent solution. Sclerotherapy might be presented. This is a procedure through which the affected veins are injected with a solution that blocks the flow of blood. The vessel will ultimately collapse and fade away into your body’s tissues. This is an effective treatment to permanently remove the spider veins on your face.

Taking proper cautionary actions to avoid TR altogether is the best in the line of defense. Here are some to consider:

• Wear sunscreen daily. This will not only help with keeping these little red lines at bay, it will help in delaying signs of aging and reduce your chances of skin cancer.
• Wash your face gently with mild facial cleansers and use warm water. Hot water can aggravate the tiny blood vessels just under your skin.
• Reduce or eliminate alcohol in your diet. Not only will your skin thank you, but your liver will be appreciative as well.
• Avoid trauma to your skin through gentle extractions of pimples, not squeezing them.
• Avoid anything that will put constant pressure on your face such as very tight fitting glasses. This reduces the ability for blood to flow easily through the capillaries.

If you find that your broken capillaries are in need of an evaluation, contact Dr. Joseph Magnant, M.D. in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs Vein Specialist. With offices at two convenient locations – 1510 Royal Palm Square Blvd. Suite 101 Fort Myers, Florida 33919 or 3359 Woods Edge Circle Suite 102 Bonita Springs, Florida 34134.