Broken capillaries are tiny blood vessels that become visible near the surface of the skin. Many of our clients experience these small, red veins on their cheeks and nose area and are concerned about the causes and how to prevent them.

There are delicate veins under the skin that are responsible for circulation within the face, and sometimes their walls can break, causing visible red broken capillaries. Fair skin, dry skin, and sensitive skins are most susceptible to broken capillaries as their cell walls are more delicate and fragile.

There are several known causes of broken capillaries: environment, genetics, hormones, trauma, medical conditions, and aging. The most important thing to remember with this concern is to try your best to prevent them from forming, as once they appear, it’s hard to erase them.

To relieve and prevent the appearance of broken capillaries, avoid using harsh scrubs and exfoliants on the area, as they can exasperate the condition. Our gentle Regenerating Exfoliator + Resurfacing Mask is safe to use (recommended use in the shower). Avoid using overly hot water on the skin - instead use room temperature as to not increase redness and inflammation. Ditch any facial treatments that use hot steamers - and opt for treatments with warm towels instead. Our Healing Eczema Balm works well as a nightly face mask to reduce inflammation + redness associated with broken capillaries.

We take diet + lifestyle into consideration when discussing skin conditions. We find it helpful to avoid heavy consumption of acidic foods in the diet, and to increase your intake of alkaline foods. Acidity breeds infection - alkaline environments reverse and prevent infection. Common acidic foods that trigger inflammation are: sugar, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, meat and dairy, refined starches.

Another healthy practice for achieving overall healing of skin conditions, such as broken capillaries, is adequate and restful sleep. Check out our post on Tips for a better night’s sleep + sleep aid tea recipe here. Drink lots of purified water daily to aid in detoxification and keep your skin cells healthy + happy.

Dr. Nastasia Irons advises that strong blood vessels are key in preventing broken capillaries. The strength of your blood vessels depends on having adequate vitamin C in your diet.
Bioflavonoids - a type of phytochemical found in plants - strengthens blood vessels, and is present in high amounts in really green, purple and orange vegetables + fruits. When looking to increase these in your diet, opt for organic grapes, blueberries, carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, kiwis and squash.

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