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Broken capillaries are most prominently visible on the face, particularly around the nose and cheeks. (1) Here, the skin is often thinner and more delicate than that of the rest of the face.

Rapid and sudden inflammation of the blood vessels can cause them to rupture and even become permanently damaged.
Home Remedies for Broken Capillaries
The following very simple remedies use readily available ingredients that you have at your home. However, it is still advisable to do a patch test to check for signs of hypersensitivity or allergies to any of the ingredients in the remedies.
1. Cold compress
The application of cold temperature shrinks the underlying blood vessels to reduce blood flow in the area. This, in turn, helps relieve inflammation of the capillaries. (2) As the inflammation goes down, the capillaries become less visible and the skin redness fades.
Although this effect is short lived, your skin appears much more normal after each session.
How to use:
- Simply wrap a few ice cubes in a clean piece of cloth.
- Apply this as a compress to the affected areas of the skin.
Caution: Do not apply the cold compress for more than 10 minutes at a time, and avoid applying ice directly to the skin. Doing this might increase the damage instead of reducing it.
2. Aloe vera
Aloe vera has natural anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the redness and swelling caused by inflamed capillaries. (3) It also hydrates the skin for a healthy-looking even skin tone. (4)
How to use:
- Mix 2–3 tablespoons of cold pure aloe vera gel with 2 tablespoons of vitamin E oil.
- Gently massage your face with this mixture for a few minutes.
- Let the ingredients seep into your skin for 20–25 minutes, and then wash your skin with lukewarm water.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps to strengthen the walls of the blood vessels and make them more flexible. (5) Thus, the inflamed capillaries are better able to withstand the pressure of overexpansion and avoid breakage.
Vitamin C also stimulates the production of collagen, which is needed to build new capillaries to replace the damaged ones.
How to use:
- Increase your intake of vitamin C through natural food sources, such as oranges, kale, broccoli, strawberries, guava, red peppers, and grapefruit.
- You can also ask your doctor to put you on a vitamin C supplement, and take it in the proper dosage.
4. Arnica
Arnica is not only a natural anti-inflammatory agent but also promotes better blood circulation. (6) Both these qualities help to reduce the inflammation of the capillaries and therefore prevent their breakage and minimize the associated skin redness.
Arnica also helps to moisturize the skin, making it supple and even-toned.
How to use:
- Put ½ cup of dried arnica flowers in a clean jar and pour a cup of olive oil on top of it.
- Tightly close the jar’s lid and keep it out in the sun for 2 weeks.
- Take out the dried arnica flowers and strain the resulting oil mixture.
- Massage this concoction very gently onto the affected areas.
5. Horse chestnut seed extract
Horse chestnut contains a compound called aescin that can help relieve inflammation from your capillaries while also strengthening them. Both these effects keep the capillaries from breaking due to overexpansion. (7)
Plus, the anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the redness and swelling of the skin.
How to use:
- Take 1 tablespoon of extract of horse chestnut seed in a bowl and mix in 2 tablespoons of pure aloe vera gel and ½ tablespoon of witch hazel.
- Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on overnight.
- Clean your face with lukewarm water or a warm washcloth in the morning.
Self-Care Measures to Heal Broken Capillaries
The following lifestyle measures can increase the effectiveness of the remedies mentioned so far for treating broken capillaries. They also help to improve your overall skin health.
1. Apply a moisturizer
Dry skin is less elastic and therefore tears easily, contributing to the damage caused by broken capillaries. Plus, it is more prone to inflammation, irritation, and itching, which will add to your discomfort.
So, it is important to moisturize your skin regularly to keep it soft and supple. This is the first step towards proper skin healing.
2. Limit sun exposure
Sunlight contains harmful ultraviolet rays that penetrate deep into the skin to damage it at the cellular level. This radiation releases unstable molecules called free radicals in the skin that attack healthy cells and trigger inflammation that will further aggravate your broken capillaries.
Therefore, it is very important to protect your skin from the sun. For starters, you must always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher during the day, even when you are at home or when it’s cloudy outside.
Try not to go out when the sun is at its peak (noon to early afternoon). But if you must, always apply sunblock and wear protective clothing such as full-length pants and full-sleeved shirts to keep your skin covered as much as possible.
You can even wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella to block out the sun.
3. Eat healthily
Besides topical treatment, you will need proper nourishment to heal the vascular damage and promote a quick recovery. A healthy, well-balanced diet full of antioxidants and proteins will help relieve inflammation and facilitate rebuilding.
Foods such as fish, cinnamon, almond, paprika, ginger, licorice, and turmeric are natural anticoagulants, which prevent blood clots in the body. They can help improve overall circulation and discourage the formation of blood clots in the damaged capillaries. This effect reduces the reddish appearance at the sensitive areas.
4. Avoid using hot water
Hot water dries out your skin and thereby makes it more irritated and prone to damage. It exacerbates the underlying inflammation of the blood vessels, leading to the rapid dilation of the capillaries.
So, it’s best not to wash your face with hot water and use cold water instead or lukewarm water during winters.
5. Avoid smoking
Smoking damages your blood vessels, increasing the risk of broken capillaries. (8) Tobacco smoke releases free radicals inside the body that attack your blood vessels and trigger inflammation. Plus, you have to quit smoking to sustain your overall skin health.
6. Limit alcohol consumption
Alcohol increases the dilation of the capillaries, which aggravates the redness and increases the risk of breakage. In addition, alcohol abuse can weaken the capillaries and lead to frequent breakage.
7. Exercise
High-intensity workouts leave your face flushed and red due to increased blood flow. If you have a tendency to develop broken capillaries, such workouts will just aggravate the issue. Work out in cooler temperatures and switch to mild-intensity routines such as swimming, yoga, or power walking.
8. Stay hydrated
Drink 7–8 glasses of water daily to hydrate your skin from within.
Final Word
Broken capillaries are a painless condition that does not pose any serious health risk, but it can affect your appearance.
The ruptured capillaries spill blood in the surrounding tissue, which becomes visible through the skin as a reddish splotch. The dilated capillaries themselves appear as a reddish-blue web of veins on the surface of the skin. This can be quite unsightly and can make you self-conscious.
Fortunately, you can manage the disorder with some easy home remedies, which are pretty effective. These remedies mainly work by shrinking the capillaries to reduce the chances of breakage and minimize the reddish appearance of the skin.
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