How to Heal a Popped Blood Vessel

Popped blood vessels can occur for a variety of reasons. Essentially, the skin has been damaged in a manner that caused a blood vessel underneath the surface to rupture. Oftentimes, popped blood vessels are due to falls or accidents that led to bruising. Other times, popped blood vessels may simply be due to the aging process or genetics. While popped blood vessels generally heal on their own, there are certain things you can do to encourage the healing process.

Apply a cold compress to the area. Use an ice pack or soak a washcloth in ice water. Hold it on the area for approximately 5 minutes. Remove it for 5 minutes and then reapply. The cold temperature will help to reduce swelling and redness. It will also soothe the skin and alleviate pain.

Wait. Popped blood vessels will heal on their own; the process just takes time. Generally, a popped blood vessel will fade within 2 to 3 weeks. There is no long-term damage from a popped blood vessel, so your skin should return to its normal condition.

See a dermatologist. If you have a popped blood vessel that won't go away, your dermatologist may perform sclerotherapy on it. This involves injecting the blood vessel with medication that causes it to shrink. After sclerotherapy, you should see a rapid improvement in the appearance of the popped blood vessel.

Get laser therapy. Laser treatments are often used to treat popped or broken blood vessels. The laser light targets the darker pigmentation of the popped blood vessel, breaking it up and reabsorbing it back into the body. In some instances, multiple laser treatment sessions are necessary to effectively get rid of the ruptured blood vessel.

Use topical treatments that contain Vitamin K. Vitamin K keeps blood vessels pliable and healthy. As a result, it is commonly used to help heal popped blood vessels. A variety of lotions, creams and serums contain Vitamin K and are available over the counter to treat popped blood vessels. Apply the treatments daily for best results.