Visible blood vessels on the face are a common concern, often appearing as small, reddish, or web-like lines. These marks are frequently called “broken capillaries” or “spider veins.” While generally harmless, understanding their causes clarifies why they develop on the skin.
Understanding Facial Telangiectasias
What are commonly called “broken blood vessels” on the face are not truly broken. They are dilated capillaries or venules, medically termed telangiectasias. These small blood vessels appear enlarged because their walls have widened, making them noticeable just beneath the skin’s surface. These fine, threadlike lines can be blue, red, or purple, typically 1 to 3 millimeters wide. They commonly appear on the nose, cheeks, and chin, often where the skin is thinner or more exposed.
Primary Factors Contributing to Their Development
Several inherent factors increase susceptibility to facial telangiectasias. Genetic predisposition plays a significant role; approximately 90% of people with spider veins have family members who also experience them. As individuals age, blood vessels naturally weaken, and the skin loses elasticity and thickness. This thinning makes underlying vessels more visible and prone to dilation.
Fair skin is another contributing factor, as individuals with lighter skin tones often have less protective melanin. This reduced melanin means their skin offers less natural protection against environmental damage, and their skin may also be inherently thinner. Such characteristics can make the delicate capillaries more prominent and susceptible to the factors that cause them to become visible.
Environmental and Lifestyle Influences
External factors and daily habits significantly influence facial telangiectasias. Chronic sun exposure is a major contributor; ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages collagen and elastin, weakening blood vessel walls. This damage makes vessels more likely to dilate permanently and become visible. Sun protection is a key preventive measure.
Frequent shifts between hot and cold temperatures stress blood vessels; repeated cycles of rapid dilation and constriction, such as in hot baths, saunas, or cold weather, can damage capillary walls. Alcohol consumption, a vasodilator, temporarily widens blood vessels, and chronic heavy use can lead to permanent vessel dilation and a persistent flushed appearance as it breaks down collagen. Physical trauma, like aggressive scrubbing, persistent nose blowing, forceful sneezing, or vomiting, can cause temporary pressure changes leading to vessel appearance. Harsh wind exposure also contributes to skin irritation and vessel fragility.
Underlying Health Conditions and Medications
Specific medical conditions and medications can cause or exacerbate facial telangiectasias. Rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, frequently presents with visible blood vessels, particularly around the nose and cheeks. Rosacea’s inflammation can lead to persistent redness and enlarged vessels.
Some autoimmune diseases are linked to telangiectasias. Conditions like lupus and scleroderma can manifest with these visible vessels on the face, hands, and other areas, reflecting underlying vascular changes, as these conditions involve the immune system attacking healthy tissues, including blood vessels. Prolonged or improper use of corticosteroids, topical or oral, can significantly thin the skin and weaken blood vessels. This effect, known as skin atrophy, makes capillaries more fragile and visible as collagen declines with corticosteroid overuse. Liver disease or certain genetic syndromes can also contribute to facial telangiectasias.