Telangiectasia: the medical name for a thread vein
Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 3 min read
Published 13 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong
Telangiectasia is a small blood vessel that stays dilated at the skin surface, seen as a fine red, purple or blue thread, on the face most often along the nostril creases, cheeks and chin. The vessel is remodelled, not broken: its collagen-supported wall has given way under cumulative sun exposure, rosacea, genetics or age-thinned skin, and it does not close on its own. It is sealed by selective photothermolysis with a vascular laser or IPL.
Key facts
ICD-10
I78.1
What it is
A dilated dermal vessel that has remodelled open; nothing is 'broken'
Selective photothermolysis: 532 nm KTP, pulsed dye or long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG, or IPL, matched to vessel colour, depth and skin type
Where it fits
Three related problems share the red face. Fixed visible threads are telangiectasia; episodic waves of heat and colour are flushing; persistent background redness with flushing and vessels points to rosacea. Dr Sin Yong checks for rosacea before sealing vessels, because closing the vessels present does not treat a condition that is quietly producing new ones. In Fitzpatrick III to V skin he leans on longer wavelengths, which spare epidermal melanin and lower the pigment risk. Creams, icing and vitamin K serums do not close a remodelled vessel. Full page: facial thread veins; the condition behind many of them on rosacea and facial redness; vessels on the legs on leg veins.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The phrase is a misnomer Dr Sin Yong corrects daily. Nothing is broken; the vessel has remodelled open and stays open until it is sealed. That is also why no cream or cold compress reverses one.
No. A remodelled vessel has no biochemical off-switch a topical can press. Vascular lasers and IPL work by heating the blood inside the vessel so the wall is injured and the body seals and resorbs it; more than one pass may be needed, and new vessels can form if sun or rosacea continue.
References
Mese Say E, Okan G, Gökdemir G. Treatment outcomes of long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser for two different subtypes of rosacea (n=66). J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(9):16-20. source
