Red veins on the face are caused by small damaged blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. They most often appear on the cheeks, chin, and nose, and are sometimes also referred to as spider veins, thread veins, or broken capillaries. While harmless, they can cause you to feel less confident about your appearance.
Why do some people have red facial veins?
The broken capillaries that lead to the small visible red marks on the face occur when the blood vessels become enlarged. This can happen naturally as we get older, and some people are genetically predisposed to the problem. Therefore if some of your family members developed them, you are more likely to get them yourself.
Sun damage is also a common cause of red veins, as UV rays can cause the blood vessels to become enlarged. If the skin becomes sunburnt, the thread veins will become more visible as the damaged skin peels away. Therefore, using a good quality sunscreen or moisturiser with an SPF factor of at least 30 on a daily basis can help to keep your skin protected.
Alcohol can also cause broken facial veins, because it causes the blood vessels to dilate. Over time, they can become enlarged and broken, which is why heavy drinkers often have a permanently flushed appearance. Other causes of thread veins include an injury to the face which causes bruising.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can also be a factor. People who have a skin condition called rosacea tend to be more prone to broken blood vessels on the face, although the causes for this are not well established. Rosacea tends to affect women over the age of 30 in greater numbers, and is also associated with having fair skin.
What can you do about red facial veins?
The good news is that there are ways to treat red veins. They cannot be repaired, but their appearance can be considerably improved with spider vein laser treatment. This procedure can be carried out at a clinic or beauty salon by a qualified skin therapist. It is a quick process that takes between 15 and 45 minutes.
The procedure may correct smaller skin flaws with just one treatment. If a larger area of skin is damaged, the therapist may recommend a course of three to five treatments, at intervals of between four to six weeks.
The procedure involves a precisely targeted intense pulse of light applied to the skin, which is absorbed by the blood vessel until it destructs. Little or no trace of the broken vessel will remain. The treatment may also be suitable to treat red veins on other areas of the body, and also port wine stains.
A consultation with the therapist will take place prior to the appointment to make sure that you are suitable for the treatment, and a test patch will be carried out. Some people find that the treatment causes mild discomfort, but this is temporary and any side effects should wear off within 48 hours.
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