“Broken” capillaries are not actually broken. They are small superficial blood vessels that have become permanently dilated and visible through the skin, especially on the cheeks, sides of the nose, and chin. In medicine, they are called telangiectasias. The correct name matters because it immediately explains why no cream can make them disappear.
In summary
- Visible capillaries on the face are permanently dilated vessels, not broken vessels.
- They appear more often on fair, thin skin, with age, sun exposure, temperature changes, and couperose.
- Once dilated, they do not return to normal on their own, and no cosmetic product can remove them.
- They can be removed with medical treatments, mainly laser and intense pulsed light, by a dermatologist.
- Skincare helps prevent new ones, soothe redness, and cover existing ones.
Article written by Elisa Avalle, founder of LeLang Skin Care and dermocosmetics specialist. Cover image generated with the support of artificial intelligence.
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What are visible capillaries on the face?
The skin on the face is crisscrossed by a dense network of tiny vessels. Normally, they dilate and constrict continuously to regulate temperature or in response to emotions. When this mechanism is triggered too often, or when the vessel walls and the tissue supporting them lose tone, some vessels remain permanently dilated.
The result is fine red or purplish lines, sometimes branching, that do not disappear when pressed for a few seconds, unlike simple flushing. The differences between temporary flushing, couperose, and rosacea are explained in erythrosis, couperose, or rosacea.
Why they appear
- Predisposition. Fair, thin skin that flushes easily: there is often a family component.
- Sun. UV radiation damages the collagen that supports vessels in the dermis, making them more prone to dilation.
- Temperature changes. Repeatedly going from the cold outdoors to the warmth indoors, wind, saunas, scalding showers.
- Age. Over time, the skin becomes thinner and the vessels become more visible.
- Couperose and rosacea. These are the conditions in which visible capillaries are most common.
- Hormonal changes, for example during pregnancy.
- Prolonged use of cortisone creams on the face, which thin the skin. They should be used only as directed and for the duration specified by a doctor.
Many of these factors also worsen couperose, as described in what worsens couperose.
Can a cream make them disappear?
No. The point is this: a permanently dilated blood vessel is a structural change located in the dermis, beneath the epidermis. A cosmetic product acts on the surface layers and cannot close it.
It’s important to distinguish between the capillary and the redness around it. Diffuse redness linked to skin reactivity may lessen with a well-designed soothing routine, making the capillaries less noticeable. But the capillary itself remains. Be wary of products that promise to “eliminate capillaries”: this is a promise a cosmetic product cannot keep.
A cosmetic product acts on the skin’s surface layers and does not treat any clinical condition, in accordance with Regulation EC 1223/2009. Capillaries that appear in large numbers over a short time, small spider-shaped red spots with a central point, or capillaries accompanied by burning, papules, and pustules should be shown to a doctor.
How they are really removed
Capillary removal is a medical procedure performed by a dermatologist. The most commonly used techniques are:
- Vascular lasers, which emit light absorbed mainly by hemoglobin. The vessel heats up and closes, while the surrounding tissue is spared. This is the principle of selective photothermolysis.
- Intense pulsed light, which uses a broader beam and is also used for diffuse redness.
- Electrocoagulation, for individual capillaries.
Several sessions are usually needed, and new capillaries may appear over time if the factors that caused them persist. That’s why prevention doesn’t stop after treatment: it’s what makes the results last.
What skincare can do
- Sun protection every day, all year round: it is the most important defense for the collagen that supports the blood vessels.
- Gentle cleansing and lukewarm water, never hot.
- A well-nourished skin barrier, which makes the skin less reactive to cold and wind.
- Soothing active ingredients and ingredients formulated for skin microcirculation, such as rutin.
- No gritty scrubs and no vigorous massage on areas with capillaries.
- Green concealer: green neutralizes redness and is the quickest way to make capillaries less visible, even after treatment.
For a guide to choosing a suitable cream, see: cream for couperose: how to choose one.
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Frequently asked questions
What are broken capillaries on the face?
They are not broken vessels, but small superficial vessels that have become permanently dilated and are visible through the skin, especially on the cheeks, sides of the nose, and chin. Medically, they are called telangiectasias. They appear as fine red or purplish lines, sometimes branching, which, unlike simple redness, do not disappear when pressed for a few seconds.
Why do facial capillaries appear?
Contributing factors include predisposition, which is more common in fair, thin skin; the sun, which damages the collagen that supports the vessels; and temperature fluctuations between the cold outdoors and warm indoors. As skin ages, it becomes thinner and the vessels more visible. They are also more common with couperose and rosacea, hormonal changes, and prolonged use of cortisone creams on the face.
Can a cream make capillaries disappear?
No. A permanently dilated vessel is a structural change in the dermis, while a cosmetic product works on the surface layers. A well-designed soothing routine can reduce the diffuse redness around the capillaries, making them less noticeable, and help prevent new ones from forming. A product that promises to make them disappear promises more than a cosmetic can deliver.
How are facial capillaries removed?
Removal is a medical procedure performed by a dermatologist. The most commonly used techniques are vascular lasers, whose light is absorbed by hemoglobin and closes the vessel while sparing the surrounding tissue; intense pulsed light, also used for diffuse redness; and electrocoagulation for individual capillaries. Several sessions are usually needed, and prevention helps maintain the results.
What should you do every day if you have visible capillaries?
The foundation is year-round sun protection, which protects the collagen that supports blood vessels, along with gentle cleansing with lukewarm water and a well-nourished skin barrier. Soothing active ingredients and ingredients formulated for skin microcirculation, such as rutin, can help. It's best to avoid grainy scrubs and vigorous massages; a green concealer neutralizes redness.
The next step
The pharmacist at LeLang partner pharmacies and para-pharmacies can help you create a routine for skin that flushes easily and tell you when it's time to seek advice from a dermatologist.
Want to know where to start?
Book a free virtual consultation: together, we'll assess your skin and create a personalized protocol.
Sources for this article
- Anderson R.R., Parrish J.A. (1983). "Selective photothermolysis: precise microsurgery by selective absorption of pulsed radiation". Science, vol. 220, No. 4596, pp. 524-527.
- Tan J. et al. (2017). "Updating the diagnosis, classification and assessment of rosacea: recommendations from the global ROSacea COnsensus (ROSCO) 2016 panel". British Journal of Dermatology, vol. 176, No. 2, pp. 431-438.
- van Zuuren E.J. et al. (2015). "Interventions for rosacea". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, No. 4, CD003262.
- Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products.
Where to go next: Erythrosis, couperose, or rosacea · What makes couperose worse · Cream for couperose
Discover the products: Sensitive skin
