Have you noticed fine red lines appearing on your cheeks, nose, or other areas of your face? These visible thread veins, also known as broken capillaries or spider veins, are a common skin concern that affects many people. At Be Laser & Skin Clinic in Taunton, we understand how frustrating these persistent red marks can be, and we’re here to help you understand what causes them and, more importantly, how they can be effectively treated.
What Are Broken Blood Vessels?
Broken blood vessels, medically referred to as telangiectasia, appear as small, visible red or purple lines on the surface of the skin. They occur when tiny capillaries near the skin’s surface become dilated and remain permanently expanded, making them visible through the skin. While they’re completely harmless from a medical perspective, many people find them cosmetically bothersome and seek treatment to achieve a more even complexion.
Primary Causes of Broken Blood Vessels
Sun Damage
One of the leading causes of broken capillaries is prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. The sun’s rays gradually weaken the walls of blood vessels over time, making them more susceptible to breaking and becoming visible. This damage is cumulative, which means years of sun exposure can thin the skin and compromise the integrity of the delicate capillaries beneath. This is why broken blood vessels often appear on sun-exposed areas like the cheeks, nose, and chin, and why they become more noticeable as we age and our skin naturally thins.
Genetics
Sometimes, the tendency to develop broken blood vessels simply runs in the family. If your parents or grandparents have visible thread veins, you may be genetically predisposed to developing them as well. Certain inherited conditions that affect blood vessel integrity and skin structure can make some individuals more prone to this concern, regardless of their lifestyle choices.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes persistent facial redness, flushing, and often leads to the development of visible blood vessels. The condition causes frequent dilation of blood vessels due to inflammation, and over time, this constant expansion weakens the vessel walls. Eventually, these weakened capillaries lose their ability to contract back to their normal size, remaining permanently dilated and visible. Managing rosacea through appropriate treatments is essential not only for controlling redness but also for preventing the development of additional broken capillaries.
Lifestyle and Environmental Factors
Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is a vasodilator, meaning it causes blood vessels to expand. While occasional drinking may cause temporary facial flushing that resolves quickly, frequent or excessive alcohol consumption can lead to chronic dilation that permanently weakens blood vessel walls. Over time, these weakened vessels become unable to return to their normal size, resulting in persistent visible capillaries, particularly around the nose and cheeks.
Extreme Temperature Exposure
Sudden changes in temperature can wreak havoc on delicate facial capillaries. When exposed to extreme heat—such as hot showers, saunas, or working in hot environments—blood vessels rapidly expand to help regulate body temperature. Conversely, extreme cold causes vessels to constrict. This repeated expansion and contraction can eventually damage the vessel walls, causing them to lose elasticity and remain permanently dilated. If you work outdoors in varying weather conditions or frequently alternate between hot and cold environments, you may be particularly susceptible to developing broken capillaries.
Aggressive Skincare Routines
While maintaining a good skincare routine is important, being too aggressive can actually damage your skin and its underlying blood vessels. Harsh scrubbing, over-exfoliation with mechanical scrubs or brushes, and using water that’s too hot can all traumatise the delicate capillaries in your face. The key is to treat your facial skin gently—use lukewarm water, apply products with gentle patting motions, and avoid abrasive exfoliants that can compromise your skin’s protective barrier and damage the vessels beneath.
Smoking and Poor Diet
Smoking has numerous detrimental effects on skin health, including weakening blood vessels and reducing circulation. The toxins in cigarette smoke damage the structural integrity of capillary walls, making them more prone to breaking and becoming visible. Similarly, a diet lacking in essential nutrients—particularly vitamins C and K, which support vascular health—can contribute to weakened blood vessels and poor skin integrity overall.
Other Contributing Factors
Aging
As we age, our skin naturally loses collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep it firm and resilient. This natural thinning process makes the skin more fragile and causes underlying blood vessels to become more visible. Additionally, decades of sun exposure, environmental stressors, and the natural aging process all contribute to reduced elasticity in blood vessel walls, making them more susceptible to permanent dilation.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal fluctuations can significantly impact the development of broken blood vessels. Pregnancy, in particular, increases blood volume and can cause vascular changes that lead to visible capillaries. Menopause brings its own set of hormonal shifts that can affect blood vessel integrity and skin thickness. Similarly, hormonal contraceptives like birth control pills can influence vascular health and may contribute to the appearance of thread veins in some individuals.
Physical Trauma and Strain
Sometimes, broken blood vessels can result from direct physical causes. Facial injuries, even minor ones, can damage capillaries and make them permanently visible. Intense physical exertion, violent coughing or sneezing, vomiting, or heavy lifting can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure that leads to capillaries bursting. While these causes are less common than the others mentioned, they can still result in persistent visible blood vessels that require treatment.
Effective Treatment Options at Be Laser & Skin Clinic
The good news is that broken blood vessels don’t have to be permanent. At Be Laser & Skin Clinic in Taunton, we offer advanced IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments specifically designed to target and reduce the appearance of thread veins and spider veins.
How IPL Treatment Works
Our IPL skin rejuvenation treatments use controlled pulses of intense light energy that are absorbed directly by the blood in the visible capillaries. This light energy converts to heat, which causes the walls of the blood vessels to collapse. Over time, these collapsed vessels are naturally absorbed and eliminated by your body, significantly reducing their appearance and evening out your skin tone.
What to Expect
- Quick and comfortable treatments with minimal downtime—you can return to your daily activities immediately
- Visible improvements often noticed after just 2-3 sessions
- Most clients require 3-6 sessions spaced 4 weeks apart for optimal results
- Long-lasting outcomes with proper sun protection and skincare maintenance
- Suitable for light to medium skin types
Our IPL treatments not only target broken capillaries but also help with rosacea redness, pigmentation issues, and overall skin rejuvenation by stimulating collagen production.
Your Journey to Clearer Skin
During your consultation at Be Laser & Skin Clinic, our qualified experts will assess your skin concerns, discuss your treatment goals, and create a personalised treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. We use FDA-approved equipment and provide comprehensive aftercare guidance to ensure you achieve the best possible results.
Preventing Future Broken Blood Vessels
While we can effectively treat existing broken capillaries, prevention is equally important:
- Always wear broad-spectrum SPF to protect against UV damage
- Avoid extreme temperature fluctuations when possible
- Be gentle with your skincare routine and avoid harsh scrubbing
- Limit alcohol consumption to reduce vascular stress
- Manage underlying conditions like rosacea with appropriate treatment
- Maintain a healthy diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants
- Stay hydrated to support overall skin health
Take the First Step
If you’re concerned about broken blood vessels on your face and would like to explore how IPL treatment can help you achieve clearer, more even-toned skin, we invite you to book a consultation at Be Laser & Skin Clinic. Our expert team is dedicated to helping you feel confident in your skin with personalised, professional care.
Be Laser & Skin Clinic
Taunton, Somerset
Learn more about our IPL Skin Treatments
Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person. A consultation is required to determine if IPL treatment is suitable for your skin type and concerns.
