Does caffeine cause broken capillaries?

Broken capillaries, also known as spider veins, are small reddish purple blood vessels that appear under the surface of the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the face around the nose, chin, and cheeks. While broken capillaries are harmless, some people want to minimize their appearance for cosmetic reasons. This has led to questions around what causes broken capillaries and whether substances like caffeine play a role.

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What are broken capillaries?

Broken capillaries occur when the small blood vessels under the skin become damaged or dilated. This causes them to appear as tiny red or purple threads under the surface of the skin. Some key facts about broken capillaries include:

They are also called spider veins or telangiectasias.
They are harmless benign vascular lesions.
They are most common on facial skin, especially around the nose, cheeks, and chin.

They can also appear on the legs, feet, chest, and back of the hands.
They range in size from tiny threads to larger patches.
They are reddish purple, red, or blue in color.

They are caused by sun damage, aging, genetics, and other factors.
They are not usually a sign of an underlying medical condition.
They don’t cause any pain or discomfort.

Broken capillaries appear when the smallest blood vessels, known as capillaries and venules, become damaged. This causes them to abnormally dilate and appear under the surface of the skin. The medical name for broken capillaries is telangiectasia.

What causes broken capillaries?

Broken capillaries have a number of different causes, although the exact cause is often difficult to pinpoint. Contributing factors can include:

Sun exposure – UV radiation damages the blood vessel walls.

Age – Blood vessels become more fragile over time.
Genetics – Some people inherit a tendency for dilated blood vessels.
Rosacea – Chronic skin condition that causes blood vessels to enlarge.

Pregnancy – Hormonal changes and increased blood volume can cause facial spider veins.
Heavy lifting or straining – Putting pressure on the blood vessels can damage the vessel walls.
Vomiting or coughing frequently – Forceful actions that strain the blood vessels.

Skin injury – Damage to the skin can cause blood vessels to break.
Acne – Severe acne inflammation can damage skin blood vessels.
Birth control pills – Can cause spider veins in some women due to hormone effects.

Cortisone creams – Can thin vessel walls with prolonged use on the face.

Most often, broken capillaries are caused by a combination of sun exposure, aging, and genetic tendencies. The delicate facial skin is most prone to developing broken capillaries. But factors like skin injuries, pregnancy, and rosacea can also play a role.

Does caffeine cause broken capillaries?

There are a few ways in which caffeine could potentially contribute to broken capillaries:

Vasodilation – Caffeine is a vasodilator, meaning it causes blood vessels to dilate or expand. This includes the capillaries and small venules under the skin. Some research has found topical caffeine constricts blood vessels when first applied, but this effect is temporary. Prolonged use or oral ingestion leads to vasodilation. Expanding these delicate blood vessels makes them more prone to damage.
Dehydration – Caffeine acts as a diuretic causing the body to flush out water. Dehydration causes blood to become thicker. Higher blood viscosity puts more pressure on the vessel walls and can increase the likelihood of ruptures.
Withdrawal – For regular caffeine consumers, going for periods of time without caffeine can trigger the blood vessels to dilate. This is due to the onset of withdrawal symptoms.

Coughing – Drinking hot coffee or other caffeine drinks can make some people cough. The bursts of pressure from frequent coughing can strain the capillaries.
Vomiting – High doses of caffeine can trigger nausea and vomiting in some. Like coughing, retching and vomiting increase pressure on blood vessels.

While there’s no definitive research linking caffeine intake to spider veins, the biological mechanisms suggest it’s plausible that caffeine may contribute to broken capillaries in at least some individuals.

Other causes of facial red veins

While broken capillaries are a common cause of facial red veins, there are some other conditions that can also cause visible blood vessels:

Rosacea – Chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes facial flushing and visible blood vessels.
Eczema – Facial eczema and dermatitis can cause skin irritation and redness.

Lupus – Some types of lupus cause a butterfly rash across the nose and cheeks.
Scleroderma – Autoimmune condition that can cause telangiectasias on the face and hands.
Sunburn – Sunburned skin appears red due to inflammation and dilated blood vessels.

Alcohol – Drinking alcohol causes vasodilation and facial flushing.
Heat or cold exposure – Temperature extremes cause blood vessels to dilate and skin to redden.
Allergies – Allergic reactions can inflame facial skin and cause visible dilated blood vessels.

If facial redness persists, worsens over time, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist. An evaluation can help determine if an underlying skin condition or systemic disease is causing visible blood vessels.

Treatments for broken capillaries

While harmless, many people seek treatment to reduce the appearance of broken capillaries. Effective treatments include:

Laser therapy – Pulsed dye lasers and intense pulsed light can selectively target blood vessels.

Sclerotherapy – Injection of a sclerosing solution causes spider veins to fade.
Cauterization – An electric current or chemical solution seals off broken vessels.
Skin resurfacing – Chemical peels or dermabrasion can remove surface vessels.

Makeup – Color correcting makeup can temporarily camouflage red veins.
OTC creams – Some non-prescription creams claim to constrict vessels.

Of these, laser therapy is considered the gold standard treatment. Sclerotherapy is also very effective for improving the appearance of spider veins on the legs. Topical creams tend to produce minimal results.

Prevention

You may not be able to completely prevent broken capillaries. But protecting your skin from damage can reduce your risk:

Wear broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen daily.
Avoid excessive sun exposure.

Wear protective clothing outside like hats and sunglasses.
Don’t pick, squeeze, or scrub your skin.
Avoid prolonged use of topical corticosteroids on the face.

Treat conditions like rosacea and acne to minimize skin inflammation.
Avoid straining from constipation, heavy lifting, or bearing down.
Stay hydrated and minimize dehydrating substances like caffeine and alcohol.

Be gentle when cleansing, shaving, and applying skincare products.

While you can’t always prevent broken capillaries, protecting your skin from sun damage, irritation, and injury can help minimize risk factors.

Conclusion

In summary, broken capillaries are benign enlarged blood vessels under the skin surface. They can appear as small red, purple, or blue threads or patches, most often on the central face. Various factors can contribute to broken capillaries including sun exposure, aging, genetics, pregnancy, straining, some skin disorders, and injury.

Caffeine may play a contributing role by causing vasodilation, dehydration, coughing, and vomiting in some individuals. However, there is a lack of research directly linking caffeine intake to broken capillaries. The best prevention is sun protection, gentle skin care, and avoiding circumstances that put excessive strain on facial blood vessels.

Treatments like lasers can reduce the appearance of broken capillaries. But always consult a dermatologist if facial redness is worsening or you have other skin symptoms.