Broken Capillaries

Broken capillaries, also known as Telangiectasia, are visible dilated small blood vessels on the skin.

The most common causes include rosacea, sun damage, and spider naevus.

• Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can present in a few different ways, but commonly we see background facial redness and broken capillaries especially across the cheeks, nose and chin.

• Sun damage – Cumulative sun exposure over the years can cause capillary walls to weaken and become visible

• Poikiloderma of Civatte – this is another form of sun damage where we see a combination of redness (broken capillaries) and pigmentation on the neck.

• Spider naevus – this can occur at any age and is characterised by a central red spot (collection of blood vessels) with radiating vessels, resembling a spider.

Vascular Laser for redness reduction

A vascular laser delivers a light that is selectively absorbed by the blood vessels in the skin.  This light is absorbed by blood vessels or melanin (pigment) in the skin depending on the condition being treated. The laser light can also help stimulate new collagen formation at the same time resulting in a degree of skin remodelling.

This laser treatment can be used for:

• Redness of the face and neck

• Broken capillaries

• Spider naevi

• Early scars

• Red stretch marks

• Vascular birthmarks

Laser is a simple medical practice-based procedure. With the newer devices, topical anaesthetic is not required prior to the procedure.

You will be lying down and asked to wear goggles or shields to protect your eyes. Each time the laser is fired a bright light will be seen even through the goggles and a sound heard. Despite being able to see the flashes of light, please be reassured that if you are wearing goggles, your eyes are protected. Pain is usually mild due to the cooling mechanism used by the laser.

The treated area may feel warm after treatment. Ice packs are used to help reduce swelling. Results are visible after approximately 6-8 weeks. Two to five treatments may be required spaced apart by 4-6 weeks. Some conditions require more treatments eg. port wine stains.

The word ‘Laser’ stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation and precisely defines how a laser works. In a nutshell, laser irradiation can selectively destroy specific targets within the skin without damaging surrounding skin structures. Put simply, a vascular laser beam specifically targets oxyhaemoglobin (a key component of blood) within blood vessels. It does this by operating at a wavelength of light that is absorbed by oxyhaemoglobin. Absorption of the beam of light by oxyhaemoglobin destroys the molecule and thus the blood vessel being treated. The key to how well these machines work is basically how perfectly they can destroy haemoglobin and thus the blood vessel being treated without affecting surrounding skin structures such as collagen and elastin. A number of complicated factors dictate how well the machine can do this such as the wavelength the machine operates at, whether the beam is continuous or pulsed and the pulse duration if it is pulsed.

Some people take a day or two off work but it is not absolutely necessary. The amount of bruising is dictated by the settings used. Your doctor will discuss this with you prior to treatment.

Side effects can be divided into immediate and long term possible side effects. The most common side effect is mild swelling and purple bruising. Purpura can last up to 14 days but is much less common with new laser systems, such as the VBeam Perfecta. Long term side effects are exceptionally rare with new vascular laser technology. Redness and swelling is mild and lasts 3-5 days.