Broken Capillaries
Those small red or purple lines on your nose, cheeks, or chin aren't going away on their own, but they're some of the most treatable vascular concerns we see.
Broken capillaries are permanently dilated blood vessels that sit close enough to the skin's surface to be visible. They don't cause discomfort, but they do affect how your skin looks, often contributing to persistent redness or uneven tone that no amount of concealer can fully resolve. At Element Dermatology in Sartell, MN, we treat facial vascular concerns with precision laser and light-based treatments that close off the visible vessels without damaging surrounding skin.
About This Condition
What Causes Broken Capillaries?
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body, responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to skin tissue. When they become permanently dilated and lose their ability to contract, they remain visible through the skin as fine red, pink, or purple lines. They're not actually broken in the way a bone breaks, but they're stretched and weakened to the point where they can't return to their normal diameter.
They're most common on the face, particularly around the nose, on the cheeks, and across the chin, though they can also appear on the chest and legs. They tend to become more noticeable with age as the skin thins and collagen support decreases, but they can develop at any age, depending on the contributing factors.
Common causes and contributing factors:
Sun Exposure
Cumulative UV damage weakens the walls of capillaries and causes repeated dilation that eventually becomes permanent. One of the most common causes of facial broken capillaries, particularly on the nose and cheeks.
Rosacea
Rosacea involves chronic inflammation and repeated flushing that gradually dilates and weakens the capillary walls. Many patients with rosacea also develop telangiectasias as the condition progresses, and both need to be addressed together for best results.
Genetics and Skin Type
Fair-skinned patients with a family history of rosacea or visible facial redness are more prone to broken capillaries. Thinner skin offers less structural support for capillary walls, making them more susceptible to dilation over time.
Temperature Extremes & Lifestyle
Repeated exposure to extreme heat or cold, alcohol consumption, spicy foods, and hot showers can all contribute to chronic facial flushing and capillary dilation over time. These factors don't directly cause broken capillaries, but they accelerate the process.
If your broken capillaries are related to rosacea, that changes the treatment approach. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition that can cause new visible vessels to form over time if it isn't managed. Treating the visible capillaries without addressing the underlying rosacea produces results that don't last as long. Our clinical team, will assess whether your vascular concerns are isolated or part of a broader picture and build your treatment plan accordingly.
Targeted Treatments
How We Treat Broken Capillaries
BroadBand Light High Energy Rapid Output (BBL HERO)
Broad-spectrum light that targets both the red pigment in visible vessels and the overall redness associated with sun damage and rosacea.
Aerolase Laser Treatment
Operates at a 1064nm wavelength that penetrates deeper into the dermis, making it effective for larger or deeper vessels that don't respond to surface-level treatments.
Laser Vein Treatment
A pulsed dye laser designed for vascular concerns that targets oxyhemoglobin selectively, making it one of the best options for discrete, visible capillaries on the nose and cheeks.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Broken Capillaries
Will broken capillaries go away on their own?
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No. Once a capillary has become permanently dilated, it won't contract back on its own. Skincare products, serums, and topical treatments can't close a visible blood vessel. The only effective way to eliminate broken capillaries is with a laser or light-based treatment that selectively heats and collapses the vessel. The good news is that the treatments are quick and comfortable, and they produce visible results within a few weeks.
Does the treatment for broken capillaries hurt?
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Most patients describe the sensation as a series of brief warm snaps across the skin, similar to a rubber band flick. The Aerolase is generally the most comfortable treatment for broken capillaries thanks to its ultra-short pulse width, and most patients find it well-tolerated without numbing. The V-Beam and BBL may involve slightly more sensation depending on the treatment area, but the sessions are short, and the discomfort is minimal.
Will my broken capillaries come back after treatment?
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Treated vessels don't come back, but new ones can form, especially if the underlying cause hasn't been addressed. Patients with rosacea, a history of sun exposure, or contributing lifestyle factors are more likely to develop new capillaries over time. Sun protection is the single most important thing you can do to slow the formation of new vessels. For patients with rosacea, periodic maintenance treatments help keep visible redness and capillaries under control.
Is the treatment safe for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin?
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Yes, and it's actually one of the most effective treatment categories for patients with rosacea. The light-based treatments we use are designed to target blood vessels without triggering broader inflammation. At Element Dermatology, our team assesses whether your visible capillaries are related to rosacea or isolated vascular changes, which affects the treatment approach. For patients with active rosacea, we'll also discuss medical management options alongside the laser treatment.