Facial Capillary Break: An Expert's Guide

You have red spots on your face that don't seem to go away anytime soon. Congratulations - you are a perfectly normal human being with a broken capillary. But while a broken blood vessel sounds nasty and scary, it's not the end of the world. (Broken capillaries are commonly found on the face and legs. ) Broken capillaries can be caused by a variety of things, including sun exposure, rosacea, alcohol consumption, weather changes, pregnancy, genes, etc.

The good news: broken capillaries can be removed. With the right tools and measures, you can not only say goodbye to broken capillaries, but also prevent them from reappearing on your skin in the future. From home remedies that reduce redness to laser treatments that erase capillaries forever, here's everything you need to know about capillary breaks.

Not to be a buzzkill, but the Internet is not your doctor, and you should definitely make an appointment with a dermatologist for a formal diagnosis. But if you are still trying to self-diagnose, let us make it easy for you: broken capillaries are enlarged blood vessels just below the surface of the skin that look like bright blood-red marks, usually in a spider or branch-like pattern (although small single pinpricks (sometimes they can look like small single pinpricks).

In general, there are two causes of capillary breakage. One is skin trauma, such as crushing a pimple with great force, strong microdermabrasion, or sneezing. The other is excessive dilation of blood vessels due to taking hot showers, being in cold winter air, eating spicy foods, exercising, or drinking alcohol. Says celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau (opens in new tab), "Capillary walls are very elastic, and when vessels are dilated too often, they lose their ability to contract and remain enlarged."

Sadly, genetics plays a large role in whether or not blood vessels are prone to breakage. But it is common in people with sensitive skin, acne, or rosacea, and rages especially in winter, thanks to fluctuating heat and cold.

Yes and no. Once the capillaries are broken, they remain there permanently unless they are lasered by a dermatologist (more on that later). Still, there are small silver linings.

"Over-the-counter products containing anti-inflammatory ingredients like rosehip oil can also minimize redness," says dermatologist Arash Akhavan, M.D., founder of the Dermatology and Laser Group in New York (opens in new tab). You can also try applying pomegranate oil, another natural anti-inflammatory, nightly. Be aware, however, that these are not as likely to work.

"You can also ask your doctor about Lofade (opens in new tab), a prescription topical cream that constricts facial blood vessels and reduces blood flow and redness," says Dr. Akaban. Fair warning: you need to go to a dermatologist for this. He continues, "Know that these are all short-term treatments for redness, and you will need to reapply daily to get the desired effect."

If you want to be permanently free of blemishes, you should invest in laser treatment. Says Dr. Akavan, "Lasers for vascular lesions, like broken capillaries, work by suddenly heating the blood in the blood vessels, causing inflammation and scarring within the vessels, which eventually disappear over a period of four to six weeks." Although it sounds painful, the treatment itself takes only a few minutes and is like a few light snaps of the skin with a rubber band."

"A laser called the Vbeam laser is the gold standard for treating vascular spots on the face," says Dr. Akaban, adding that IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments are also very effective. "However, if you have dark skin, neither can be used safely without damaging your face, so be sure to call ahead to see if your doctor has an Nd:YAG laser, which is "the best option for dark skin."

It depends on where you live, who you see, and the size of your broken capillaries, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $400 out of pocket per session. So yes, it is expensive, but it is the only way to legally get rid of your broken blood vessels.

We know, we know-this is the ultimate skin care advice until the end of time, but it doesn't matter one bit. Says Dr. Akaban, "The capillary walls weaken when exposed to ultraviolet light, so a good application of sunscreen may prevent the development of broken capillaries." So every morning, apply a skin-friendly sunscreen, like the cult favorite below (opens in new tab).

Scrubs are for pots and pans, not your face, and you're usually doing more harm than good by using a granular exfoliant on your skin. Instead, opt for a chemical exfoliator (opens in new tab). Chemical exfoliators use a mild acid to dissolve dead skin cells, sebum, and dirt from pores.

No, you don't have to turn down hot showers for life, but know that the hotter the water, the more you are putting your skin at risk.

"Hot water on the face stimulates blood flow and dilates the capillaries. So instead, wash your face with cold or lukewarm water and avoid direct contact of the hot shower stream with your face."

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