8 Research Backed Essential Oils For Broken Capillaries
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Nearly half of all adults deal with the skin care issue of broken capillaries. These are the tiny, visible veins that create a pattern of redness on the skin.
If you’re dealing with this, you might have tried a lot of things without much luck. But, recent studies suggest that some essential oils may actually help “calm down” and make these red marks less noticeable.
These oils come with benefits that can help your skin look and feel better when used correctly.
Keep reading, as we’re about to share some essential oils that research suggests might help with those stubborn broken capillaries.
Essential Oils For Broken Capillaries
Recent research has shown that some essential oils can help improve skin health and might reduce the look of broken capillaries. Here’s a table summarizing the essential oils I’ll be mentioning, their benefits for broken capillaries, and their active ingredients:
| Essential Oil | Benefits for Broken Capillaries | Active Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet Fennel Oil | – Reduces the appearance of broken capillaries – Anti-inflammatory – Boosts blood flow | Trans-anethole, Fenchone |
| Mace Oil | – Calms swelling and improves blood flow – Strengthens capillary walls | Limonene, Hesperidin |
| Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp) Oil | – Strengthens blood vessel walls – Rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E | Omega-6, Omega-9, Vitamin E |
| Ruscus aculeatus L and Salvia officinalis L Extracts | – Improves circulation and reduces inflammation – Strengthens vein walls | Ruscogenin, Rosmarinic acid |
| Rosa gallica (French Rose) Essential Oil | – Strengthens blood vessels – Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties | Phenolic constituents |
| Bitter Orange Essential Oil | – Strengthens capillary walls and improves blood flow – Reduces red marks | Limonene, Hesperidin |
| Frankincense Essential Oil | – Supports stronger capillary walls – Anti-inflammatory – Tones and firms the skin | monoterpenes, alpha and beta pinenes |
| Myrrh Essential Oil | – Strengthens tiny blood vessel walls – Astringent qualities – Anti-inflammatory | Terpenoids, Sesquiterpenes |
1. Sweet fennel oil
Sweet fennel oil is one type of essential oil that’s being looked at for skin care, especially for its use in reducing the appearance of broken capillaries. The oil’s anti-inflammatory abilities and its role in boosting blood flow could help with this skin issue.
Research has pointed out that components in sweet fennel oil, like trans-anethole and fenchone, are responsible for its positive effects on the skin.
When you put this oil on your skin (after mixing them with a carrier oil), it might help calm down swelling and improve circulation, making spider veins less noticeable.
Skin conditions like rosacea and facial redness might also benefit from the oil’s calming and soothing influence. The anti-inflammatory nature of the oil could potentially reduce inflammation and the redness that comes with these conditions.
2. Mace oil
Mace oil comes from the nutmeg seed’s outer layer and is getting noticed by researchers for its ability to help reduce the look of broken capillaries.
Mace oil has been investigated for its chemical composition, and it contains monoterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, and phenyl propanoid ethers. These components could potentially have various therapeutic skin uses.
3. Opuntia spp (Prickly pear) oil
Research shows that the oil from Opuntia spp, or prickly pear, can be useful for skin care, especially for strengthening the walls of tiny blood vessels, helping to make spider veins and broken capillaries less visible. [1] [2]
This oil contains a lot of essential fatty acids, like omega-6 and omega-9, which support the skin’s outer layer and keep it strong. This makes the skin more elastic and helps it hold onto water, which is important for keeping blood vessels healthy. [1]
Prickly pear oil also has a lot of Vitamin E, which is anti-inflammatory and helps stop skin cells from being damaged by harmful molecules, which can cause issues like spider veins, varicose veins, rosacea, and facial redness. [1]
4. Ruscus aculeatus L (Butcher’s-broom) and Salvia officinalis L (Sage) extract
Research indicates that extracts from Ruscus aculeatus L (Butcher’s-broom) and Salvia officinalis L (Sage) can be beneficial for skin issues like broken capillaries and spider veins.
Butcher’s-broom contains ruscogenin, which strengthens vein walls and improves circulation, while Sage is rich in rosmarinic acid, protecting blood vessels against inflammation.
Moreover, a patent from L’Oreal describes a composition with these extracts, designed to reduce capillary brittleness and increase resistance. This composition, which can be used in cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, has demonstrated effectiveness in increasing capillary resistance, making it a potential natural solution for vascular health and skin care.
5. Rosa gallica (French rose) essential oil
Rosa gallica, or French rose, is being studied for potential skin care benefits.
Research suggests that its essential oil may have anti-aging effects. [3] [4]
The oil’s benefits are attributed to its mix of anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants, which can improve the health of capillary walls. [3] [4]
Applying Rosa gallica oil to the skin may boost blood flow and aid in skin healing. [3] [4]
6. Bitter orange Oil
Bitter orange essential oil might help people with broken capillaries.
Studies show that stuff in the oil from the peel of the Citrus aurantium fruit, like limonene and hesperidin, may make capillary walls stronger and improve blood flow.
Hesperidin has antioxidant, chelating, and anti-aging properties and is commonly used as a supplement. [5]
7. Frankincense Essential Oil
Recent studies have shown that frankincense essential oil may have potential benefits for skin care.
A study investigated the anti-aging effect of frankincense essential oil in an in vivo model and found that it demonstrated anti-collagenase and anti-elastase activities, indicating a superior anti-aging effect comparable to other compounds.
The study also formulated the oil into solid lipid nanoparticles to improve its solubility and skin penetration characteristics, and the results showed an anti-photoaging effect in UVB-irradiated rats.
Another study presented a case of the management of basal cell carcinoma of the skin using frankincense essential oil, which resulted in the total resolution of the carcinoma on the arm and substantial resolution on the chest after treatment.
Additionally, a skin care composition was disclosed, which included frankincense essential oil as a component for promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis.
These findings support the potential benefits of frankincense essential oil in skin care, including its anti-aging and anti-cancer activities.
8. Myrrh essential oil
Myrrh essential oil is believed to help strengthen the walls of tiny blood vessels and minimize the look of broken capillaries due to its strong astringent qualities.
GOOD TO KNOW
Astringent qualities refer to the ability of a substance to cause contraction or tightening of tissues.
Astringents are commonly used in skincare products to help reduce oiliness and shrink pores. They work by constricting blood vessels and reducing inflammation, which can help improve the appearance of the skin
Research indicates that myrrh contains terpenoids and sesquiterpenes, which may help skin cells to contract, leading to less redness and swelling.
A study conducted in vitro with excised mice skin showed that myrrh essential oil had a certain effect on promoting permeability of Chuanxiong, a traditional Chinese medicine, and may promote the elimination of drugs from epidermis to dermal capillaries through an increase of skin blood flow, thus enhancing the transdermal permeation amounts of drugs.
What are capillaries?
Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that help with the transfer of oxygen, nutrients, and waste between blood and tissues. They connect arteries and veins and are vital for your health.
These vessels are everywhere in your body, except in hair and nails. Red blood cells go through them one by one.
Capillary walls are just one cell thick, which makes the exchange of substances with your blood easy. However, this also means they’re delicate and can be damaged easily.
When capillaries get broken, you might see red or purple lines, known as spider veins, on your skin. These are often seen on the face and legs and can happen due to different reasons like genetics, sun damage, hormone changes, or stress.
Skin care for broken capillaries often involves products that focus on calming and soothing the skin. Aromatherapy with essential oils that have anti-inflammatory or decongestant properties can help.
For example, oils that encourage circulation and have toning effects (like the ones you are about to see) can support capillary health.
GOOD TO KNOW
It’s important to mix essential oils with a carrier oil before applying them to the skin to avoid irritation.
While natural remedies for broken capillaries can help with their appearance, it’s also a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional for more persistent or concerning issues.
How they break?
Over time, the delicate walls of capillaries can break due to various factors such as physical trauma, environmental stressors, or certain lifestyle habits, leading to the appearance of broken capillaries or spider veins on the skin.
These tiny blood vessels, responsible for microcirculation, are located just beneath the surface of the skin. When they’re damaged, blood may seep out, resulting in visible red or purple lines.
Excessive sun exposure is a common culprit. Ultraviolet (UV) rays accelerate skin aging and can weaken capillary walls, making them more prone to breakage. Similarly, harsh weather conditions, like extreme cold or wind, can also cause damage by stressing the skin.
You might also find that certain activities exacerbate the condition. For example, high-impact exercises, can increase blood pressure, which can strain the capillaries. Moreover, if you’re prone to skin inflammation due to conditions like rosacea, you’re at a higher risk of experiencing broken capillaries.
It’s not just external factors that contribute to this issue; internal influences play a role too.
Hormonal changes, particularly those associated with pregnancy or menopause, can affect blood vessel stability.
Additionally, alcohol consumption can lead to temporary vasodilation, which over time may cause capillaries to break if indulged in excessively.
How to use these essential oils for broken capillaries?
Here’s a short guide on how to use these oils for broken capillaries.
- Mix the essential oil with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or sweet almond oil, to lower the chance of irritating your skin. A common mix is 1-2% essential oil to carrier oil, which means about 6-12 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. Wash your skin well before putting on the oil mix for the best absorption.
- 2. Apply the oil mix with soft, upward strokes, focusing on areas with broken capillaries. This massage can assist in improving blood flow, which aids healing.
- Use it twice a day – in the morning and at night. You need to do this regularly, as it might take some time to see changes.
TIP: Always test the oil mix on a small part of your skin to check for any bad reactions. If your skin turns red, itches, or feels uncomfortable, stop using it right away and talk to a doctor.
Safety considerations when using essential oils
When you add essential oils to your skin care routine, they might help with broken capillaries, but you need to use them safely to prevent skin problems or other bad effects.
Essential oils are powerful because they’re made from a lot of plant material, so you’ve got to be careful with them.
Do a small test on your skin before you put the oil mix over a big area to make sure you don’t have an allergy. Just put a little bit on a small part of your skin and wait a day or two to see if your skin gets angry.
Remember, some oils, especially ones from citrus fruits, can make your skin more likely to get sunburned. Always read the directions that come with your essential oils. If you’ve got skin issues, or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should talk to a doctor before you start using essential oils.
Other essential oils that you can use for spider veins
Among the other essential oils that may help with spider veins, arnica oil stands out due to its anti-inflammatory capabilities, which might reduce the visibility of these veins.
- Cypress oil is also considered good for the skin, as it may help with the appearance of broken capillaries by toning the skin.
- Helichrysum oil is known for aiding in skin repair and reducing inflammation, making it a good candidate for addressing spider veins.
- Lavender oil is recognized for its relaxing and calming properties, which may soothe the skin and decrease facial redness associated with broken capillaries.
- Lemon oil has a toning effect that might help tighten and improve skin appearance, and neroli oil’s calming and anti-inflammatory attributes could help soothe skin affected by spider veins.
- Peppermint oil can provide a cooling effect that may diminish redness and inflammation, while rosemary oil has toning properties that could improve skin condition.
- Tea tree oil, with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, may help with redness and swelling, potentially benefiting those with spider veins.
Conclusion
You’ve got the scoop on essential oils that are backed by research for helping with broken capillaries. Make sure to mix these oils with a carrier oil before you put them on your skin, and be careful if your skin usually reacts to new things.
Essential oils can be soothing and might help, but they’re just one part of taking care of your skin. To really tackle issues like spider veins, varicose veins, rosacea, or general facial redness, it’s smart to also make lifestyle changes and get advice from a doctor. They can guide you on how to reduce inflammation and improve circulation in your skin.
Aromatherapy can be calming and help with relaxation, but it’s best when used as part of a wider skin care routine. Using essential oils can also have a toning and moisturizing effect, which is great for your skin’s overall health.
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