Why do blood vessels become visible and do not disappear?
The skin is penetrated by a network of tiny vessels, the diameter of which is constantly changing: in the cold they narrow to retain heat, when heated, physical activity or excitement they expand to give it away. The muscle fibers in the vessel wall and the nerve signals that regulate them are responsible for this. As long as the mechanism is working properly, redness comes and goes without a trace. But with repeated sharp expansions, the wall of a small vessel gradually stretches and loses its elasticity, like a rubber band stretched many times. There comes a moment when the vessel can no longer shrink to its original diameter - it remains dilated and visible through the skin.
Then simple physics comes into force: the dilated vessel is closer to the surface and contains more blood, so it becomes clearly visible. On the face, the situation is aggravated by two circumstances. First, the skin here is thinner than on most parts of the body, and the vasculature lies closer to the surface. Secondly, the face is exposed to the sun, wind and temperature changes all year round. This is why rosacea is almost always localized on the wings of the nose, cheeks, chin and décolleté, and not where the skin is denser and protected by clothing.
- First there is a tendency to sudden flushing of redness, which disappears in 10-20 minutes
- Gradually, the episodes become more frequent, and the redness lasts longer
- Then the first individual vascular threads appear, usually on the wings of the nose
- Over time, they multiply, merge into a mesh and give the face a persistent pink-red background.
- At the same time, the skin often becomes sensitive: it burns and feels tight from the usual products.
- People with light, thin skin and a family history are most vulnerable
Cuperosis and rosacea: where is the border?
These words are often used interchangeably and this creates confusion. Cuperosis - a description of what is visible: dilated blood vessels. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in which vasodilation is only one of the manifestations. The difference is fundamental: if you remove blood vessels with a laser in case of isolated rosacea, the result will be stable for many years. If rosacea is behind the rosacea, and the disease itself is not treated, the inflammation will continue, and new blood vessels will appear again, and the person will decide that the laser did not help.
- With rosacea, in addition to blood vessels, there are hot flashes, persistent redness of the central part of the face, often papules and pustules
- Skin with rosacea reacts with burning and tingling to many skincare products
- Rosacea flows in waves: periods of exacerbation are followed by relative calm
- Rosacea often affects the eyes: dryness, pain, gritty feeling, redness of the eyelids and edges of the eyes
- Thickening of the skin of the nose with an increase in its volume is a late form of rosacea, occurs mainly in men.
- Isolated rosacea without hot flashes and rashes is more often associated with the sun, weather and heredity
Separately, it is worth mentioning the eye shape, which is most often missed. A person has been treating facial redness with a cosmetologist for years, and at the same time complains to an ophthalmologist about dryness and pain in the eyes, and no one connects these complaints. Meanwhile, eye damage due to rosacea can be severe and affect the cornea. Therefore, the combination of persistent redness of the face with a constant feeling of sand in the eyes, photophobia and recurrent styes is a reason to be examined by two specialists at once.
What provokes and intensifies rosacea
Each episode of sharp dilation of blood vessels is a step towards their permanent deformation. That is why control of provoking factors makes sense not only for comfort, but also as a real prevention of progression.
- Sudden changes in temperature - going from cold to a warm room, bathhouse, sauna, hot shower on the face, working near the stove and open fire
- The sun is the most underestimated factor: ultraviolet radiation destroys collagen around the vessels, and they lose support
- Alcohol directly dilates blood vessels in the skin; the most pronounced effect of strong drinks and red wine
- Hot and spicy food, hot drinks, and large portions of spices
- Stress, anxiety, public speaking—episodes of flushing
- Intense physical activity in a hot room
- Aggressive care: alcohol lotions, hard scrubs, steaming, steam baths, mechanical facial cleansing
- Smoking - worsens the condition of the vascular wall and microcirculation
- Sharp wind and dry frosty air without skin protection
Care that really helps
Home care will not remove existing vessels, but it solves two other problems: it reduces the frequency of redness and prevents the appearance of new stars. Its main principle is minimalism and softness, because sensitive skin with rosacea does not tolerate experiments well.
- Ежедневная защита от солнца широкого спектра с высоким фактором, круглый год. Предпочтительны средства с минеральными фильтрами, которые лучше переносятся чувствительной кожей.
- Мягкое очищение тёплой, а не горячей водой, без мыла, спиртовых тоников и жёстких средств. Кожу не растирают полотенцем, а промакивают.
- Компоненты с доказанным противовоспалительным и сосудоукрепляющим действием: азелаиновая кислота, ниацинамид, экстракты, уменьшающие покраснение.
- Восстановление кожного барьера — увлажняющие средства с липидами; повреждённый барьер усиливает чувствительность и реактивность.
- Исключение of ухода: скрабы с крупными частицами, спиртовые лосьоны, ментол, эвкалипт, распаривание, вакуумный и разогревающий массаж.
- Зимой — защита кожи от ветра и мороза плотным кремом перед выходом, летом — избегание пиковых солнечных часов.
- При выраженной розацеа — назначенная врачом наружная и системная терапия, без которой сосудистое лечение даёт нестойкий результат.
Laser and other hardware methods
The principle of hardware treatment is based on the selective absorption of light by hemoglobin in the blood. The radiation passes through the skin, almost without damaging it, is absorbed by the blood inside the dilated vessel, heats it, and the vessel wall sticks together from the inside. The vessel becomes empty, the blood flow is redistributed to adjacent normal capillaries, and the body gradually removes the remains. Outwardly, it looks like the disappearance of an asterisk within one to three weeks after the procedure.
- Vascular lasers are the most accurate tool for individual vascular threads and stars, including large vessels of the nasal wings
- Intense Pulsed Light - Works better on diffuse redness and overall rosy complexion while improving skin tone
- Typically, multiple treatments are required several weeks apart; the amount depends on the area and caliber of the vessels
- After the procedure, redness, slight swelling and temporary darkening of the vessel are possible - this is an expected reaction, not a complication
- A prerequisite is strict sun protection before and after the course, otherwise pigmentation is possible
- Electrocoagulation is an outdated method of spot cauterization: it is cheaper, but its accuracy is lower, and the risk of pinpoint scars and white spots is higher
- Sclerotherapy is used primarily on the legs rather than the face
It is important to understand that the laser removes existing vessels, but does not change the predisposition to their appearance. If the provoking factors persist and rosacea is not treated, in a year or two new stars will appear - not the same ones, but different ones. This is not a sign of unsuccessful treatment: the treated vessel actually disappeared forever. Therefore, the plan immediately includes maintenance procedures approximately once every year and a half and constant home care. This approach gives a stable result, while a one-time procedure without changing habits is temporary.
