Facial Veins

Facial veins are small, visible blood vessels that sit close to the skin’s surface. Often called thread veins, spider veins, or broken capillaries, they commonly appear as fine red, purple, or occasionally blue lines, particularly around the nose, cheeks, and chin. The medical term for these vessels is telangiectasia. They can appear as individual fine lines or as branching networks, and when several vessels radiate from a central point, they may be described as spider veins.

Despite the name, broken capillaries are not necessarily physically broken: in many cases they are small vessels that have become permanently dilated and therefore more visible through the skin.

Visible facial vessels are usually harmless, but they can become an aesthetic concern when they create persistent redness or grow increasingly noticeable across the complexion. They are especially common around the nose, where vessels sit close to the surface, and they may occur alongside facial redness or rosacea.

Established thread veins rarely disappear completely on their own: once a superficial vessel remains persistently dilated, professional vascular treatment is usually needed to reduce its appearance.

At 111 Harley Street, we carefully assess your visible vessels before treatment. Depending on their type, size, colour, and location, we may recommend laser or light-based treatment to reduce their appearance and create a clearer, more even-looking complexion.