Broken capillaries appear mostly on the face, legs, and arms. They can be very disturbing, not only in the way they appear, but also on how they affect your self-confidence, especially when on the face. There are many factors that may be associated with their occurrences. This article will give you a brief information on some of the reasons.
The tiny, threadlike, pink or blue-colored lines that appear on your face, arms, or legs, are nothing else but broken capillaries. On legs, these are also known as spider veins. They sometimes appear to be a bruise or a red-bluish patch. However, once formed, they are unlikely to heal on their own and may require medical intervention. The medical term for this condition is telangiectasia rosacea.
Capillaries are thin-walled blood vessels that carry blood. They are threadlike and very delicate. When the capillaries are ruptured, it leads to leakage of blood into the surrounding skin tissues, thus making the broken capillaries appear prominently on the skin. This problem is often inherited. Hormones also play a significant role in their occurrence, therefore, these are commonly observed in pregnant women or during menstrual cycles. Aging also makes the skin thinner, which is why these are also seen in the elderly. The following sections will explain the possible causes of telangiectasia rosacea appearing at different areas of the body.
On Face
The veins on the face are very delicate and tend to break easily. The nose, cheeks, and chin are the most common areas on the face where these appear. Broken veins tend to worsen with time, especially when affected by external factors like climate. The causes include, vigorously scrubbing of the face, sunburns, hot baths, severe hot or cold climate, pressure on face due to glasses pressing against the nose bridge, and the like.
The treatment include laser surgery that helps reduce the blood leakage from the capillaries. This causes the capillaries to shrink and prevent flare ups. You can even mix chamomile or rose oil in a face moisturizer or face mask. When this is applied to the face, it will help reduce the visibility of this condition. Apply a topical cream with vitamin C to prevent future breakage. Also, chamomile tea will help improve blood circulation.
On Arms
The most common causes include aging and pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, many hormonal changes take place within her body. This causes the capillaries to rupture. Also, the blood volume in pregnant women tends to increase, thereby causing blood to pool within the veins. This causes pressure and the veins rupture. Another reason behind the added pressure on the veins during pregnancy, is the enlargement of uterus that compresses the veins.
The prominence of veins tends to disappear or reduce within a few months after childbirth. In some cases, women on birth control pills, postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, etc., may suffer from broken capillaries. As you can see, women are more prone to this condition than men. The treatment option is the same, laser therapy or topical application of creams with vitamin C.
On Legs
The main cause is blood circulation. The force of gravity helps the blood flow down to the legs. When blood is poorly circulated in the legs, it causes broken capillaries. They are also seen when one sits cross-legged, or stands for a long time. Nurses, teachers, factory workers, and all those who stand for a really long time suffer from this condition. Weight gain or obesity will also lead to this. Other than that, a leg injury may also result in this condition. Sclerotherapy is the most widely used treatment for broken veins on legs. You can also apply creams containing vitamin C.
You can prevent this condition by avoiding going out in extreme weather without protective means such as, wearing scarfs, sunglasses, hats, and covering your arms and legs with long-sleeved clothing. Avoid taking hot-water baths and do not spend a lot of time in hot saunas. Avoid standing and sitting cross-legged for a long time. If you observe broken capillaries, speak to your doctor about it for a suitable treatment option.
Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
