What these fine lines are
Telangiectasias are small blood vessels that stay widened near the surface. They show as fine red, purple or blue threads, mostly on the nostrils, cheeks and chin. People often call them broken capillaries. In fact nothing has broken. The vessel has been remodelled, and collagen support around its wall has weakened.
The nostrils, cheeks and chin are common sites because of vessel density and sun exposure. Causes include cumulative sun damage, rosacea, genetics and thinner skin with age. Long use of steroid cream is an occasional cause. Flushing is different. It comes and goes with triggers, while thread veins look the same from hour to hour.
How telangiectasia treatment works
Haemoglobin in the blood absorbs the light. The blood heats, the vessel wall is injured, and the body seals and clears the vessel. No single device suits every vessel. Colour, calibre, depth and skin type guide the choice. Longer wavelengths are often preferred in Asian skin. If redness is part of a wider problem, read about rosacea treatment, because rosacea needs medical care as well.
Wavelengths and what they suit
| Option | Tends to suit | Point to note |
|---|---|---|
| Pulsed dye, about 585 to 595 nm | Fine red vessels and diffuse redness | Temporary bruising can follow at some settings |
| 532 nm KTP | Fine, superficial red vessels | Epidermal melanin absorbs more of it |
| Long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG | Larger or blue-purple vessels | Reaches deeper and spares epidermal melanin |
| IPL | Background redness more than single threads | Filtered broadband light |
| Yellow laser | Fine superficial vessels | Less suited to deep blue vessels |
| 675 nm on DEKA RedTouch Pro | Facial redness | Used as a protocol after assessment |
What does not work
Creams sold for broken capillaries do not reverse these vessels. Evidence for vitamin K stops at bruising.
Cold compresses and diet changes do not close a remodelled vessel.
These devices are unguided near the eyes.
Doing this at home risks trauma and infection.
Thread veins or something else?
This brings lasting background redness, sensitivity, bumps or flushing. Thread veins can be one visible feature. Sealing vessels does not treat the disease producing new ones, so medical care runs alongside.
This may suit IPL or another approach after assessment, not a single-vessel pass.
Unusual patterns in childhood, or vessels with other symptoms, may belong to a different condition and need examination.
After assessment you receive a plan showing what would and would not be done, fee factors and the option of no treatment.
Limits, risks and who needs a doctor first
Treatment works on vessels you can see. It does not treat rosacea, and new vessels can form over the years if sun exposure or rosacea continues. More than one pass may be needed. Purpura can follow some pulsed-dye settings. Fitzpatrick III to V skin carries a risk of pigment problems, which careful settings and longer wavelengths aim to lower. See a doctor first if you have burning redness, bumps or flushing, vessels after long steroid use, or vessels near the eyes with irritation or swelling. A vessel or red patch that is raised, bleeds or changes needs examination too. Assessment also decides whether treatment should go ahead or rosacea care should come first.
What a session involves
Sessions are short. You may feel a brief rubber-band snap with each pulse. Topical anaesthetic is available for sensitive areas. Afterwards, sun protection and rosacea control continue. Recovery depends on the device and settings, and your doctor will explain this once your vessels have been assessed. Results vary.