If you have been noticing an increase in facial veins, more specifically nasal veins, you are not alone!
Many people suffering from facial veins find it aesthetically bothersome, especially since they tend to present themselves in the middle of your face like on your nose, chin, forehead or cheeks, which are all areas hard to hide.
Beyond finding them aesthetically bothersome, you may also notice redness, bulginess, and/or pus-filled bumps that can leave your skin feeling tender and uncomfortable. There are normally other symptoms paired with facial/nasal veins, and at times can be associated with rosacea. Therefore, before diving into the cause of nasal veins, it’s important that we first understand the ins and outs of rosacea.
What is rosacea?
Despite many people thinking rosacea is a pigmentation condition, it is actually characterized as an inflammatory skin condition, and not a pigmentation condition such as melasma or hyperpigmentation. Rosacea is known as an inflammatory disease as it presents itself in the form of dilated blood vessels, which swell and lead to a variety of symptoms.
In addition to redness on the facial skin, patients suffering from rosacea can also experience bumpy or veiny patterns and even pus-filled bumps. Other common symptoms of rosacea are
- Swollen, visible veins over your nose and cheeks
- Warmth and tenderness over your facial skin
- Cystic lumps that appear to be like pimples
- Gradual bulging of nose
In some severe cases of rosacea, some may also notice signs of what we call ocular rosacea, which is a type of rosacea that affects your eyes and may cause:
- Dry eyes with redness and irritation
- Pain and swelling in the eyes without any redness
- Vision problems
Although there is no underlying disease associated with rosacea, flare-ups can occur for a variety of different reasons, and hold different timeframes based on its severity. From the use of new cosmetic creams, the foods you eat, the environment you are in, to the medication you take, all of this may result in dilated blood vessels…making it hard to identify where your unique case of rosacea is stemming from.
Why does rosacea cause nasal veins?
Now for the question you have been awaiting answers to… Why does rosacea cause nasal veins?
The answer is quite simple. In more severe cases of rosacea, where patients are experiencing a peak in dilated blood vessels, the blood vessels may swell to the point of clogging oil glands. Not only do these dilated/ swollen blood vessels increase the appearance of redness and veins in areas like your nose, chin, forehead and cheeks, but they also cause a bulging effect that many patients find bothersome.
Something else to note is although nasal veins can occur in severe cases of rosacea, they may also appear on their own. With that being said, the treatment plan may look similar.
How can you treat rosacea and nasal veins?
If you think you are suffering from rosacea, ocular rosacea, or severe rosacea that is resulting in redness, bulginess, or overexposed veins, we urge you to book a virtual consultation with award-winning skin care physician Dr. Shehla Ebrahim.
During your consultation, Dr. Shehla Ebrahim will help identify where your rosacea may be stemming from so that you can avoid flare-ups. In addition to highlighting things you may want to avoid, Dr. Ebrahim will start you on a medical treatment plan for your unique case!
If you are ready to attack your flare-ups before they attack your confidence, CLICK HERE to book your online consultation for rosacea treatment in Vancouver.