Ask a Derm: 9 Ways to Get Rid of Broken Capillaries

Always Wear Sunscreen

As discussed before, sun damage could very well be the cause of your broken or dilated blood vessels. If you're a devoted sunbather, you might want to rethink your long days by the pool or, at the very least, be consistent and diligent with your sunscreen application. "Always use a high broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30," Nazarian says. We recommend trying La Roche-Posay's Anthelios Tinted Mineral Ultra-Light Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF 50 or one of these other impressive formulas.

Don't Pop or Pick

Remember the bit about trauma causing broken or dilated capillaries? Well, rigorous microdermabrasion isn't the only culprit. As you know, not a whole lot of good comes from picking at your face and popping your own zits, and doing so could very well be the driving force behind your redness. "When you try to pop your own pimple, you may break blood vessels in the process from pressing too aggressively," says Nazarian. "Never press or squeeze pimples to avoid breaking vessels." Instead, see a professional about getting your breakouts and blackheads properly extracted.

Apply Anti-Inflammatory Products

As far as skincare goes, it's really important to use products exclusively formulated for keeping the skin calm in order to counteract the redness. Stick with products containing anti-inflammatory and calming ingredients, and it goes without saying, put down the ones known to cause irritation. Rouleau recommends her Redness Care Firming Serum, which uses water lily, sea whip extract, and licorice extract meant to help naturally cool and comfort the skin.

Drink Cold Water

If you know you get flushed, hot, and red every time you work out at the gym, keep a cold drink with you, and take sips throughout your workout to prevent the repeated breaking of blood vessels over time. Typically, when you drink an ice-cold drink, your blood vessels constrict, preventing dilation and redness. In other words, drink up.

Consult Your Dermatologist

If you feel like your skin is always flushing or turning red from seemingly every little thing, speak to your dermatologist to see if you have rosacea. Since it can lead to long-term visible blood vessel formation, and rosacea can worsen from the use of other skincare products, consult your doctor for the right medication and advice for your specific skincare concerns.

Keep Your Skin Moisturized

Moisturization is the answer to many skin concerns, and broken capillaries are no different. "Remember to moisturize and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption," Rouleau says. "When your skin becomes dry, it becomes irritated. By simply keeping moisture in the skin, you can keep the skin's moisture barrier strong to prevent the skin from getting easily sensitized and irritated." If your skin's barrier layer is compromised, try a moisturizer specifically designed to repair and restore it, like Dermalogica's Barrier Repair. This formula uses oat to calm inflammation and vitamins C and E to protect the skin against free radicals, which lead to irritation.

Store Your Skincare in the Fridge

You might have heard about how storing products in your refrigerator can preserve and prolong the life of your products, but it turns out chilling them also has great benefits for the skin. Rouleau says to refrigerate your toners, serums, and moisturizers to boost the cooling sensation. The cool temperature can soothe redness on the skin and calm inflammation. Additionally, steer clear of hot showers and other activities that can increase overheating or a rush of blood to the face, which can trigger redness.

Use Vitamin C Serum

While we're on the topic of vitamin C, incorporating a serum into your routine could be very beneficial if you're worried about broken or dilated blood vessels, according to Rouleau. "A vitamin C serum is great for strengthening capillaries and soothing redness as long as you use a formula that is stable and doesn't sting or irritate the skin," she says. "My favorite type of topical vitamin C is magnesium ascorbyl phosphate found in [my] Vitamin C&E Treatment, which not only helps reduce redness and keep capillaries strong, but also builds collagen, fades brown spots, and evens out discoloration. (Another great option is SkinCeuticals' C E Ferulic. Then, take 1000 milligrams of vitamin C with bioflavonoids daily. This may help prevent the capillary walls from being so fragile, as well as prevent bruising."

Get a Laser Treatment

As far as getting rid of a broken capillary, an in-office laser treatment is your best option. "Laser treatments are the best and most efficient way to get rid of little blood vessels on the face," says Nazarian. "Intense pulsed light, or IPL, can also decrease redness over time—both procedures are available at your dermatologist's office. I typically recommend a vitamin K serum to use twice daily under sunscreen to help minimize the redness." As Nazarian points out, some animal research supports that it may decrease blood vessel formation.

However, Rouleau says, "Generally, once you have them, they don't go away. You need to seek professional treatment, as skincare products cannot make these vanish completely. There are laser procedures that can be very beneficial, as well as the older tried-and-true technology of using an electric needle to cauterize surface capillaries. Either way, consult with a skin care professional to determine which option is best for you, based on the severity of the condition."