Broken Blood Vessels

Broken blood vessels is a medical condition characterized by rupturing of some of the numerous tiny blood vessels located right below the skin. Blood vessels on any part of the body, ranging from eyes to feet, can rupture. Before we move on to broken blood vessels in the various parts of our body, let's have a brief look at the various symptoms and causes of broken blood vessels.

Broken Blood Vessels: Causes and Symptoms

The condition referred to as broken blood vessels is normally caused due to minor trauma, which ruptures the blood vessels below the skin. This trauma can be caused due to various reasons, including bumping or bruising. Blood vessel rupturing is also a common phenomenon in aging individuals. In most of the cases, broken blood vessels tend to leave a visible mark on the individuals' skin. Being right below the skin, it seldom goes unnoticed. Other symptoms of broken blood vessels include appearance of a purplish welt or a blood spot, resembling spreading red cells, on the skin. The individual may also experience some pain when the affected area is touched. Although rare, there are numerous other causes of ruptured blood vessels, prominent ones being high blood pressure malnutrition, prescribed medications.

Broken Blood Vessels in Eye
Broken blood vessels in eye, technically referred to as subconjunctival hemorrhage, is typically characterized by reddening of the eye due to blood leakage into the space between the conjunctiva and sclera. Although, it is a painless condition, it's wiser to consult a doctor, as there are chances that the popped blood vessel in eye is a symptom of some underlying medical condition, such as high blood pressure or skull fracture. It is generally a self-limiting condition, which heals on its own, within a week or two.

Broken Blood Vessels on Face
Broken blood vessels on face, i.e. nose, cheeks, chin and forehead to be precise, can be caused by several factors, ranging from aging and exposure to sun to stress and medical conditions such as rosacea. Even though they are not harmful, they are easily noticed and hence you may have to initiate medical treatment to get rid of them as soon as possible. Popular methods of treatment include administration of certain antibiotics and sclerotherpy.

Broken Blood Vessels in Hands and Legs
Broken blood vessels in hands and legs are mostly caused due to any injury caused to the limbs. Accidentally bumping into something while walking or using your hand to break something can lead to broken blood vessels. For instance, using your fist to break a wooden platform can leave you with broken blood vessels in fingers. Like the ruptured blood vessels in any other part of the body, vessels in hands or legs can also heal on their own within a week or two.

Broken Blood Vessels in Brain
Although minor damage to the blood vessels in most of the parts of the body doesn't cause much harm, broken blood vessels in brain can be very harmful, not just for the brain, but to the entire body as well. The implications by the ruptured blood vessels in the brain includes speech disruption, double vision, etc. and thus requires proper medical attention. Most often they are accompanied by severe headaches and blurring of vision.

The healing time for broken blood vessels depends on several factors, the most prominent one being the part of the body that is affected. Normally, it takes 4-6 days for these blood vessels to heal on their own. You can also use some simple home remedies for eye care, such as cold compress, to speed up the recovery process. Although, the problem is not very grievous, if the symptoms of broken blood vessels persist for longer duration or if it causes a lot of inconvenience, you may have to consult a medical professional to initiate further treatment.