Dilated (Broken) Capillaries 101 from ASCP Skin Care Professionals

Dilated Capillaries

As social media and other societal pressures continue to impact our quest for perfect skin, clients are increasingly turning to you, their skin care provider, for education and professional advice regarding many skin imperfections that affect them psychologically. Dilated capillaries are among these Minor Skin Irregularities™ that clients are increasingly seeking treatment and advice about from their skin therapists. Even if only superficial in nature, dilated capillaries tend to appear most noticeably on the face, which can cause distress to your clients.

What are Dilated Capillaries?
Dilated capillaries (also known as “broken capillaries”) is a term used by estheticians to describe the superficial blood vessels that lie at the surface, or just under the surface, of the epidermal skin layer. They normally appear as bright or dark red fine capillary lines, but sometimes can be thicker in the nasal area. Dilated capillaries can be straight or wavy or even circular in shape.

Vasodilation (vaso, meaning blood; dilation, meaning widening) happens when excessive blood stimulation through the capillaries occurs. When constant vasodilation occurs, the elasticity of the capillaries becomes extended and weakened, so the capillary does not contract back to its original width. These now dilated or widened (or “broken”) capillaries become then more noticeable on the skin’s surface.

Where do Dilated Capillaries Appear?
Dilated capillaries tend to appear most often on cheek areas of the face, as well as in and around the nasal area. On thin skin, they are also noticeable on the neck and décolleté area. Due to their red color, dilated capillaries tend to be more noticeable and prevalent on lighter toned skins, generally Fitzpatrick 1 and 2 skins types. They are also found more often in individuals with thinner skin.

Learn about insurance coverage for treating dilated capillaries.

This blog is sponsored by Lamprobe. For more professional education on dilated capillaries, including their contributing causes, preventative practices, and effective treatment options, please click to here for our full blog on dilated capillaries. ©Lamskin

Please note: We have recently updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Learn more...