Broken Capillaries
Broken capillaries are usually a hereditary problem, exacerbated by age and environmental conditions.
It turns out that there are a number of factors that could lead to broken capillaries, the medical term for which is telangiectasia rosacea. The tiny veins just under the surface of the skin are delicate. Damaging these veins may cause them to dilate and break.
It’s not difficult to damage these veins, since they are just beneath the skin. Scrubbing your face too vigorously or washing with water that’s too hot can do it. So can excessive exposure to the sun. Facial injuries can also lead to broken capillaries.
Not all causes of broken capillaries are preventable. They can sometimes accompany general rosacea, a skin condition that causes the face to become red and flushed. While rosacea outbreaks often have triggers, these triggers can be difficult to identify and are unique to each person who has the condition.
Broken capillaries sometimes become more prominent as you age, because your skin gets thinner and it becomes easier to see the veins. The condition is also hereditary. If your parents had problems with telangiectasia rosacea, you may experience it yourself. If you are prone to flushing, you may have rosacea, and that would also predispose you to developing broken capillaries.
Another possible cause is alcoholism. Excessive consumption of alcohol over a long time can increase your blood pressure, causing the veins in your face to dilate. Repeated dilation may lock the veins in that position. The broken capillaries may also indicate liver damage. Usually this only occurs after many years of alcohol abuse.
Broken capillaries often appear from the mid 20s onward, and become more noticeable as the skin begins to thin with age, which it is prone to doing to varying degrees even after the age of 25.
The preventative treatment is appropriately formulated skin care in general, with an emphasis on topical vitamin c and sunscreens, both of which serve to substantially delay skin aging and increase firmness as secondary effects to broken capillary treatment.
We recommend Jan Marini C-ESTA (available in Cream, Serum and Oil-Control Serum) once or twice daily and either Bioglycolic SPF 15 (non chemical block) or Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 30 (chemical block, which is also available in a tinted sunscreen variant) in the mornings.
Topical vascular epidermal growth factor, as used in Jan Marini TGF Serum, Cream and Eye Cream, are also excellent in ensuring the structural integrity and functioning of newly developing capillaries.
Large, older and purple broken capillaries are best removed with intense pulsed light (IPL Photo Facial, a form of laser).
IPL Photo Facial should not however replace topical maintenance, without which the problem will recur in time.
If you have questions about Photo Facial or you would like to rejuvenate your skin with a series of Photo Facial treatments for Rosacea, Broken Capillaries, Sun Damage removal, please call 602-952-8846 to schedule an appointment with one of our expert Photo Facial Laser technicians.
