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Treatment for Broken Capillaries on Face

asked 2 years ago by bulbie in Boston, MA
Latest answer by Channing R. Barnett, MD
Question viewed 44,334 times
Tags: age 25-34, face, broken capillaries

My skin is very fair and I am in my late 30s. I tried IPL spot treatments (at a medspa chain) but they did not seem to do anything. I'm not sure if it's because the technician used the wrong setting or if my skin is just stubborn and needs a stronger laser. I would like to avoid a lot of downtime if possible. Thank you!

10 answers to Treatment for Broken Capillaries on Face

Light therapies or electrocautery

First, these are not "broken" capillaries. They are permanently dilated small blood vessels called telangiectasias. Your treatment would depend on how much money you care to spend. Electrocautery is an old-fashioned, but nonetheless effective, method of treating this problem. This would be a fraction of the cost of laser treatments. The best laser treatments would include a pulsed dye laser such as the Versapulse or V-Star or a 1064 Nd: YAG pulsed laser. While the IPL... more

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist

"Broken" facial capillaries can be treated by IPL and laser but I don't recommend electro cautery

It sounds like you were treated at very conservative settings by a non-licensed provider (someone not a physician, nurse, or physician's assistant) at the med-spa. IPL got a reputation for not working because so many spas bought them and had poorly trained staff treat patients at low settings that clients had no results. In skilled and experienced and licensed hands, it can be very helpful for facial capillaries and redness. We have worked with IPL since 1995 and... more

Margaret Weiss, MD
Baltimore Dermatologist

Spider veins or broken capillaries on the face

We would use a 940nm wavelength diode laser to treat small vessles on the face. I believe that IPL is also another great option. We don't usually inject sclerotherapy for facial veins / capillaries as the blood flow is faster in the face and would "wash out" the sclerosing agent. Please consult your doctor in person for your specific situation.

Tammy Wu, MD
Modesto Plastic Surgeon

IPL is good for broken capillaries

You would get better care at a plastic surgeon or dermatologist's office than in a medispa where no doctor is present. Go to one of these settings for an evaluation and I am sure you will get a better result.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Laser for facial capillaries

Although I agree with the other experts that the long pulse ND YAG is one of the best treatments for facial vessels, an IPL/ BBL Light based treatment will have less chance of bruising or darkening of the vessels. In my office I have both options available and will often start with the BBL which is one of the best IPL systems on the market and generally gets excellent results. If there are some difficult vessels remaining we may then use a different laser such as my ND YAG to obtain optimal... more

Shawn Allen, MD
Boulder Dermatologist

Treatment for broken capillaries on face.

There are several good vascular laser/light treatments to address facial blood vessels including the pulsed-dye laser, ipl/fotofacial and Nd:YAG long pulsed laser. The settings and particular laser selected depend on the size and depth of the blood vessels. I would consult a board certified physician - in fact in your part of the country, there is a group of dermatologists called Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill - experts in laser therapies - that I would consult. The spa may not... more

Bryan K. Chen, MD
San Diego Dermatologist

Treatment of Broken Capillaries on the Face

In our practice we use electrodessication (electrocautery) which is very superficial burning of the vessels. I think it works very well and gives longer-lasting results than any laser. That being said, it is a little painful and there is crusting in the treated areas for up to 1 week after treatment. But having compared electrodessication and laser for telangiectasia (broken capillaries) on the face, I really feel electrodessication is much more effective with anywhere from 1 to 3... more

Channing R. Barnett, MD
New York Dermatologist

Treatment of "broken" capillaries on the face

Greetings~ There are many options for the treatment of the small, visible blood vessels and capillaries on the face so don't give up yet. IPL is a common treatment because it can be performed by almost anyone because it is not considered a laser. (Just because it is not laser doesn't mean it can't be harmful in the wrong hands) In our office we utilize a multitude of different wavelengths and types of laser treatments including KTP, Pulsed Dye and Nd:YAG, as... more

Grant Stevens, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Nd:YAG laser for broken capillaries

I agree with what has already been written. The Nd:TAG laser is best and gets great results with no downtime. When calling a doctor ask what lasers they have before making the appointment.

Kari L. Colen, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

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