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Lately, every time you look in the mirror, your eyes fix on the tiny tangle of red lines branching out across your cheeks and around your nose. And you wonder, what the heck are these things? More often than not, those red, spider-like clusters are just…broken blood vessels.
Broken blood vessels are overgrowths of capillaries—i.e., small blood vessels, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. They tend to form when capillaries just under your skin weaken and dilate, and they can develop on other parts of the body like the neck, chest, or even the legs (known as spider veins), he adds.
Experts In This Article
Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology and associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital
While broken blood vessels can pop up on anyone’s face, they “typically develop in people with more fair skin,” says Dr. Zeichner. In most cases, they’re completely harmless. But if they bother you, you do have options. Read on to learn what causes broken blood vessels on your face, plus how to prevent and treat them.
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Causes of broken blood vessels on your face
Photo: Getty Images/Svetlana Dolgova
Broken blood vessels can affect anyone, but certain factors might make you more likely to develop them on your face, specifically. These include:
- Genetics: It’s possible you can blame your DNA for the broken blood vessels on your cheeks and nose. People with fair skin are prone to broken capillaries.
- Rosacea or other skin conditions: Rosacea might be the reason for your broken blood vessels. Certain things can cause rosacea flares and make the broken blood vessels more visible.
- Sun exposure: UV light exposure causes damage to collagen and elastic fibers and promotes the development of new blood vessels.
- Alcohol consumption: Sipping on alcohol causes existing blood vessels to dilate and promotes the development of new capillaries.
- Post-surgery: As part of a wound healing response, the skin produces new collagen and blood vessels.
- Straining: Any time you strain, it can cause capillaries to leak.
- Pregnanc…
… eliminating facial redness, clawing and burning in the face along with red facial appearance, you may perhaps have rosacea. If you experience facial redness around the nose and the cheeks, besides sensitivity to ultraviolet light, and joint pain, these might be indications of an autoimmune situation like lupus.
Under such conditions, reach out to your dermatologist. They can help in diagnosing the underlying issue, talk regarding treatment alternatives, and, if needed, recommend you to a specialist.
FAQ
What else causes redness on your face?
We’ve found out that broken blood vessels and rosacea can make your face flushed and red. Nonetheless, these issues are solely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to facial redness. There are many other…
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