One of the most common causes of facial veins is Rosacea. Found mainly among the middle-aged people, rosacea can be understood as a severe form of an acne-like condition that cannot be resolved through over-the-counter skincare medications.
Rosacea Basics
Rosacea is among the more difficult-to-diagnose conditions. It is usually interpreted as a neurovascular disorder that has widespread dermatological or skin-related symptoms. It usually affects the face, eyes and the neck. Rosacea causes some typical symptoms, like acne with an inflamed appearance and pimples that repeatedly resurface, along with thickening of the facial skin.
There is no definite cure for rosacea or a single, confirmatory test for its prognosis. Rosacea patients suffer from sudden bouts of flare-ups of symptoms that seem to become more pronounced due to a wide range of reasons, including heightened anxiety levels, consumption of certain foods and harsh climatic conditions.
Rosacea and Facial Veins
The veins found on the face are an integral part of the vascular system that ensures blood supply to the facial tissues. The vascular system consists of a complex network of capillaries, veins and arteries. During rosacea, vascular problems multiply quickly. This causes variations in the flow of blood through the vascular system. The vessels cannot accommodate the slightest increase in the volume of blood for an extended period. Thus, when the vascular pressure rises, the vessels are bound to become inflated.
During rosacea, such vascular irregularities occur repeatedly, causing recurrent enlargement and contraction of the blood vessels. Such veins are bound to lose their elasticity. These veins become inflated and are clearly visible as the extra vascular pressure constantly forces them towards the surface of the skin. Such facial veins caused by rosacea are often called thread veins.
How Facial Veins Progress in Rosacea
Rosacea-related symptoms undergo various stages that slowly lead towards the formation of facial veins. Various phases of rosacea and the consequent development of facial veins have been explained below:
- Early Symptoms—during the first few weeks, rosacea symptoms aren’t very intense. The patient usually complains about repeated bouts of unexplained facial flushing. However, the blushed appearance might not last for more than a few hours and it often disappears without any medication. The flushing slowly takes a more recurring format, surfacing for progressively longer periods. Some patients might also complain about a bit of swelling or a slight pricking sensation. Activities inducing heavy sweating might lead to excessive irritation in the face. However, the presence of facial veins at this stage is almost non-existent.
- Mild Symptoms—more symptoms follow as the vascular disturbances rise. The casual bouts of redness worsen into elongated spells of inflammatory symptoms wherein some flaking of the skin and intense burning sensation is common. Acne breakouts during this phase are seen and pimples might contain lots of pus. The earliest signs of facial veins are reported during this phase, though a patient might not be able to see them unless a professional opinion is sought.
- Moderate Symptoms—by this stage, the vascular problems take a more penetrative form. The blood vessels are clearly enlarged and the first, clear sighting of facial veins is reported. It seems as if the skin has developed thread-like red lines. The acne develops a more chronic form. The skin can be very dry at this time, further highlighting the facial veins.
- Severe Symptoms—this stage arises only if proper medical treatment is not sought. At this stage, the facial skin thickens in an exaggerated manner and the redness is permanent. Facial veins become very unsightly and develop a lesion-like appearance.
Though rosacea is hard-to-diagnose, its symptoms can be largely controlled through a timely visit to a dermatologist.
