Quick Question: What Are Broken Capillaries?

Whether it pertains to someone’s heart or their bones, the word “broken” very rarely bodes well and for the most part, the same thing goes for your skin. If something on your skin is said to have broken (or “ruptured”), your brain probably jumps to the worst possible conclusion. Here’s a quick test — how does the phrase “broken capillaries” sound to you? Probably not that great.

Keep in mind, though, that the thing about something being “broken” is that there’s usually a way to fix it. And the good news about broken capillaries is that they aren’t as devastating as they sound. We tapped into board-certified dermatologist, and Skincare.com consultant Dr. Julia Tzu to get to the bottom of what broken capillaries are, what causes them and how to prevent them.

What Are Broken Capillaries?

Capillaries are the smallest type of blood vessels in the human body. It’s in capillaries where oxygen, nutrients, and wastes are exchanged between your blood and tissues. Before you go into panic mode upon hearing how such vital parts of the anatomy can break, Dr. Tzu wants you to know that your capillaries aren’t actually broken despite the name. In fact, they’re perfectly fine.

“Broken capillaries (or telangiectasias) are essentially tiny red surface vessels on the skin,” she says. “They have a variety of appearances and can range from small, squiggly red lines to small red dots.” Broken capillaries are also typically harmless. “They’re not a serious condition at all, but they can be a serious cosmetic issue for the beauty-conscious.”

What Causes Broken Capillaries?

There are actually a few causes behind broken capillaries, and a couple are very similar to the causes behind other skin conditions. Dr. Tzu lists sun exposure, aging (when most people start to see those spider veins) and genetics as a few, each a common proponent behind broken capillaries. Other causes can include pregnancy (quite the opposite of that “pregnancy glow”) as well as any trauma that would cause the vessels to become agitated.

How to Prevent Broken Capillaries

Due to their natural occurrence, Dr. Tzu states that broken capillaries can be difficult to prevent — but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s not possible.

TIP 1: Sun Protection

Being careful in the sun (as well as any time afterwards) can help you avoid so many issues in the future. Broken capillaries are one of them. Take care to apply sunscreen before going about your day (no matter what time of year it is), and wear the proper protective clothing to ensure your skin is getting the utmost protection. Our go to for this is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50.