Broken Facial Capillaries

Treatments we offer for broken facial capillaries:

Unsightly broken facial capillaries cause many people emotional distress and embarrassment.  Depending on your skin type, we have found that electrocautery and IPL treatments to be effective in reducing the red, spiderweb-like capillaries that form on the nose and cheeks. 

What are broken capillaries?

Broken capillaries are tiny, dilated blood vessels that are visible through the skin. They become more common as we age and our skin becomes thinner and loses collagen.

What causes broken capillaries?

Several factors can contribute and increase chances of getting them.  Fair-skinned people are generally more prone to broken capillaries. People with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or lupus, appear to be more susceptible to their formation. In addition to these indicators, there are certain environmental and behavioral factors that can contribute to the formation of broken capillaries. These include: temperature extremes, frequent nose-blowing, abrasive exfoliating products and excessive sun exposurey. Alcoholic beverages, as well as hot and spicy foods, have also been known to aggravate broken capillaries.

How can I treat my broken capillaries?

Once they form, broken capillaries will not disappear on their own. However, they can be successfully removed using electrocautery (an electric needle) or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy. These treatments are performed in-office by our board-certified dermatologists and physician assistant. The procedures are virtually painless, typically do not require downtime, and sometimes require more than one treatment. It should be known that broken capillaries may reappear after a few years, requiring treatment to be repeated at a later time.