Persistent redness on the cheeks, around the nose or on the chin is one of the most common reasons people book a consultation — and one where the word "broken capillaries" gets used for anything from a faint web of vessels to a full inflammatory skin condition. The difference between the two decides what can actually be done.
Broken capillaries vs. rosacea
"Broken capillaries" is not a medical diagnosis — it is the common name for dilated blood vessels visible through the skin: a fine web or individual visible vessels on the cheeks, nose or chin. On their own they do not hurt or become inflamed; it is a purely cosmetic concern.
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. Alongside persistent redness it typically involves flushing, swelling, papules and pustules, and it runs in flare-ups. It is a diagnosis made and managed by a dermatologist, not a cosmetologist.
Why the two get confused
Early rosacea can look like an ordinary web of broken capillaries — no obvious inflammation yet, just more pronounced redness. Telling the two apart from a photo or by eye is not something someone without medical training can reliably do, and this is exactly the case where an exam saves time and money: one condition responds to light, the other needs dermatology care.
Why capillaries dilate
- Skin structure — thin, fair skin with vessels closer to the surface shows dilation more visibly
- Sharp temperature swings — saunas, cold weather, habitually hot showers
- Ultraviolet light — sun weakens capillary walls the same way it breaks down collagen
- Mechanical stress — harsh peels, rubbing, treatments that are too hot or too intense
- General factors — alcohol, spicy food, hormonal changes, genetic predisposition
What phototherapy does
At RE/FACE, vascular concerns are treated on the BBI MULA device — a Super IPL broadband pulsed light platform. Through the VASCULAR filter, energy is directed specifically at hemoglobin — that is, at the wall of the dilated vessel itself — without affecting surrounding skin the way broader treatments do.
A course is typically 2–6 sessions, 2–4 weeks apart, with no real downtime. When treating vessels specifically, more noticeable redness for the first 3–5 days is an expected response, not a complication.
Who should not have the treatment
BBI MULA phototherapy is not performed during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with a pacemaker, during an acute infection, on broken skin in the treatment area, on a fresh tan, or on darker skin (phototype III–V) — pulsed light is not safe there. Your doctor checks the full list of contraindications at the consultation; if even one applies, the treatment is declined.
Making the result last
A treated vessel will not come back, but a new one can dilate nearby if the same triggers persist. It is worth not just clearing the visible web but also easing the load on vessels going forward: avoiding sharp temperature swings, protecting skin from the sun, and going easy on harsh treatments and alcohol. None of this replaces the course — it extends what the course achieves.
Common questions
Are broken capillaries and rosacea the same thing?
No. Broken capillaries — visible dilated blood vessels under the skin — are a cosmetic concern. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition where redness comes with swelling, papules or pustules and flares up in episodes. Early on the two can look alike, and the treatment approach differs, so when in doubt an exam comes first.
Can broken capillaries be cleared in one session?
As a rule, no. Dilated vessels on the face usually cover more than one area and vary in density, so the work is done as a course: on the BBI MULA device that is typically 2–6 sessions, 2–4 weeks apart.
Redness got worse after the session — is that normal?
When treating vessels specifically, redness for 3–5 days is an expected skin response, not a complication. Your doctor will tell you what to expect in your case beforehand.
Will broken capillaries come back after treatment?
Treated vessels do not return, but new ones can appear nearby if the same triggers persist — overheating, sharp temperature swings, alcohol, unprotected sun exposure. Removing those triggers is what makes the result last.
If it is rosacea, does phototherapy not help?
Your doctor decides at the exam. With active rosacea inflammation, dermatology treatment comes first; device work on visible vessels can be discussed once the skin is stable. A dermatologist consultation with dermoscopy at RE/FACE starts from ₽3,000.