Broken Capillaries on the Face

Broken capillaries on the face, a common problem associated with fragile skin, result in bleeding and discoloration which should eventually resolve. More severe cases may require treatment. However, if you suffer repeated episodes of bleeding, have your doctor check you for underlying medical problems.

Causes

Capillaries on your face can break and bleed for a number of reasons, including facial trauma, aging, thinning skin, and because of blood-thinning medications like warfarin.

Common Causes

The reasons capillaries break on your face include aging skin, pregnancy, puberty and other hormonal influences, sun damage, hereditary problems, and acne rosacea, often associated with alcohol abuse.

Thinning Skin

Many of the causes have to do with your skin thinning and your capillaries becoming more fragile. Broken capillaries on the face and elsewhere often accompany increasing age and sun damage, for example.

Treatment

Dermatologists frequently treat broken capillaries on the face with lasers, which cause minimal side effects; topical antioxidants; sunscreen; and retinol, a Vitamin A-based medication.

Complications

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, a condition that results in melanin-associated skin darkening, can result in aging skin or bruised skin. It can resolve on its own, or your dermatologist may recommend applications which contain hydroquinone, which blocks melanin production.

References

• Melbourne Dermatology: Causes of Broken Capillaries
• Ohiohealth.com: Easy bruising: Common as you age

Resources

• Brownskin.net: Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation