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SKIN INVOLVEMENT: MAIN MENU
Association with Other Symptoms
Alopecia (Hair Loss)
Calcinosis
Collagen, Face Lifts and Scleroderma
Digital (Finger) Ulcers
Edema (Swelling)
Elbow Tip Pain
Fibrosis (Tightening/Hardening)
Gangrene (Death of Tissue)
Hyperpigmentation
Itching
Microstomia
Neck Sign
Raynaud's
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Sclerodactyly
Telangiectasia
Xerosis (Dry Skin)
Telangiectasia
This page was written by Shelley Ensz, and has not yet been medically edited. Telangiectasia can occur in perfectly healthy people. Scleroderma (SD) affects everyone differently. Just because something is listed here does not mean an individual patient will ever experience it. See Disclaimer.
What are Telangiectasias?
Dictionary on Telangiectasia
Photo of Telangiectasias
Diagnosis
Treatment
Cosmetic Warnings
Corrective Cosmetics
Patient Stories: Telangiectasia
References
What are Telangiectasias?

Telangiectasia on HandTelangiectasia are dilated superficial blood vessels. They may occur in rosacea, in certain systemic diseases (ataxia-telangiectasia, scleroderma), or in long-term therapy with topical fluorinated corticosteroids; most cases are idiopathic (of unknown cause). Telangiectasia may also occur as a component of inherited disorders, including ataxia-telangiectasia and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. The Merck Manual.

Photo 1: Telangiectasia on hand (circled) from ISN Photo Repository.

photo-telangiectasias-on-facePhoto 2: The dilation of small vessels and capillaries can cause flat red marks to appear anywhere on the body, but primarily on the neck, nose, cheeks, and chin, and sometimes on the tongue.
Mirriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Telangiectasia(2)

Mirriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Telangiectasia
Syllables: tel•an•gi•ec•ta•sia
Pronounced something like this: te-lan-jee-ek-taa-zsha
audioAudio pronunciation for "telangiectasia" from m-w.com
Singular: telangiectasia
Plural: telangiectasias or audiotelangiectases.
Adverb: telangiectatic
Meaning: An abnormal dilatation of capillary vessels and arterioles that often forms an angioma.
Angioma: A tumor composed chiefly of blood vessels or lymph vessels.

Common Misspellings: telanjectasia, telanjectasha, telangectasia, telangectasha. AboutDermatology.com.
Photo of Telangiectasias
See Scleroderma Photos. ISN.
Diagnosis
Scleroderma can cause telangiectasia on the face and/or hands, and the presence of telangiectasia on the face and/or hands counts as one of the criteria for diagnosing CREST Syndrome For a diagnosis of CREST, which represents either Limited or Diffuse systemic sclerosis, the patient must have two or more of the following: CalcinosisRaynaud'sEsophagus ProblemsSclerodactyly (tight skin on fingers or toes) — Telangiectasia.
Telangiectasia frequently appear on the trunk and extremities of healthy people and so although you may have them there also, those telangiectasia do not count towards a CREST diagnosis.
Sometimes you can clearly see that these are little spider veins; in other cases the spider veins are "bunched up" and appear to be a rash or blemish at first glance. However, if you pull the skin apart there, you will see that it is actually a spider vein, or a dilated blood vessel, and so it is actually a Telangiectasia (rather than a rash or pimple.)
What are telangiectasia? Telangiectasia are small, unsightly red, purple or blue blood vessels found along the surface on the face, upper chest, neck and rarely on other parts of the body. Similar veins are found on the legs called spider veins. These blood vessels are abnormal, not necessary for any essential body function. Removing them gives a more pleasing cosmetic appearance. Dermatology Center of Western Iowa.
Generalized Essential Telangiectasia. Essential or primary telangiectasia refers to capillary dilation of unknown origin. No preceding or coexisting skin or internal disease is present. Generalised essential telangiectasia (GET) is just one type of primary telangiectasia and is given this name because of its widespread distribution pattern over the body. Other primary telangiectases include angioma serpiginosum, ataxia telangiectasia, angiomas and spider naevi. DermNet NZ.
Ataxia Telangiectasia. Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare, progressive, neurodegenerative childhood disease that affects the nervous system and other body systems. The first signs of the disease, which include lack of balance and slurred speech, usually occur during the first decade of life. Medical College of Wisconsin.
A clue for telangiectasis in systemic sclerosis: elevated serum soluble endoglin levels in patients with the limited cutaneous form of the disease. Patients with elevated sEndoglin levels had telangiectasia more frequently than those with normal sEndoglin levels. PubMed. Dermatology. 2006;213(2):88-92. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension, Limited Scleroderma, and Causes of Scleroderma: Molecular Defect)
Treatment
Telangiectasias can be covered with makeup or a dermatologist can remove it with sclerotherapy, laser, or PhotoDerm.
However, "Second Generation" Telangiectasia (ones that return after the first treatment) are often resistant to treatments, so we highly recommend that you (and your dermatologist) read about that situation before starting any course of treatment for telangiectasia.
How are Telangiectasia treated? An intense light device called the Photoderm provides one of the best treatments for telangiectasia. This intense light is either pulsed on the skin or a beam of yellow-green light is focused on individual vessels. Because telangiectasia are either red, pink or purple, they will absorb more of the laser light than the surrounding normal skin. When the laser light is absorbed, the vessels will shrivel up without damaging the normal skin. Remington Laser Dermatology Center.
Laser Genesis Skin Therapy. Marina Plastic Surgery Associates.
Cosmetic Warnings
Is mineral-based make-up safer? It is a good idea to avoid inhaling mineral-based cosmetics--be careful to not create dust, as particles can quickly absorb deep into the lungs--and avoid using them on damaged skin where the likelihood of absorption is dramatically increased. Enviroblog.
Cosmetics Popular with Teenagers Linked to Breast Cancer, Other Serious Health Problems. Several cosmetics and personal care products popular with teenagers contain ingredients linked to breast cancer and other serious health problems, according to a new analysis of cosmetics products. Breast Cancer Fund.
Corrective Cosmetics
Telangiectasias can be covered with makeup or a dermatologist can remove it with sclerotherapy, laser, or PhotoDerm.
Dermablend® Corrective Cosmetics is a makeup which very nicely covers Telangiectasia and other skin imperfections. Some of our scleroderma and psoriasis site visitors have also reported a more natural look (than Dermablend, which is a thicker foundation) with good coverage plus anti-inflammatory effects from the Jane Iredale line of mineral-based makeup. Some of the other brands of mineral makeups may also be worth trying, especially non-allergenic product lines.
Patient Stories: Telangiectasia
Barbara H: Generalized Essential Telangiectasia About five years ago some specialists at St, Vincents Hospital had a symposium and I was one of the subjects but they did not have anything to assist me. Laser could help but was very expensive...
Carol C: CREST Syndrome Scleroderma and Raynaud's have not robbed me of a fulfilling career...
Chloe S: Telangiectasia It is kind of like little red broken-up birthmarks all over my body...
Craig R: CREST Scleroderma I had my first scleroderma symptoms at age twenty-two, which included severe Raynaud's with some ulceration and tissue loss...
Debby: CREST Scleroderma It was then everything added up— that I did not have several different conditions, but rather they were all part of the CREST...
Dienne: Morphea plus possible CREST I finally saw a rheumatologist about 6 years ago, who told me I had Raynaud's and Telangiectasia (spider veins)...
D.M. Hoffe: Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma CREST) After an endoscopy it was discovered I had a Watermelon Stomach...
Erica R: Raynaud's Syndrome & Telangiectasia I noticed that in the middle of class my hands would go numb. I had to run out to my truck to turn on the heat...
Helen P: CREST Scleroderma I was diagnosed ten years ago when the symptoms kicked in with a vengeance following a very traumatic personal tragedy...
Iceback: CREST or Limited Scleroderma Never having heard of scleroderma, I never really asked any questions when he told me and went home to look it up on the Internet...
Jacquie: Diffuse Scleroderma I am fifty-six years old and I was diagnosed with systemic scleroderma in November of 2003, right when menopause hit...
Joy W: CREST Scleroderma Two months after my fortieth birthday, I was diagnosed with CREST scleroderma with Raynaud's...
Kathi: Scleroderma/Lupus I am 43 years old and have not been feeling well for 10 years...
Lois: Fibromyalgia with Possible CREST When I read Carla's story it almost sounded like mine! When I was in tenth grade, Raynaud's started and a horrible kind of rash...
Marthie D: CREST Scleroderma I live in a small town, which developed around a chemical and petrochemical industry in this area in South Africa...
Melissa: CREST Plus I would love to hear from anyone who knows about CREST...
Melissa H: Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) I have big red marks on me which I get teased about, but not as much as I used to...
Merrie: Mother of Daughter with Raynaud's and Fibromyalgia? They said it might mean something or not and referred her to a rheumatologist, but he just blew it off as nothing...
Olga: Difficult Diagnosis Recently I came across www.sclero.org while researching my illness that has not been recognized neither in my native country nor in Italy, where I moved twelve years ago to escape from cold winters which have destroyed my skin...
Rosie: Limited Systemic Sclerosis (Australia) Some of my symptoms may not be due to limited scleroderma, however most of these symptoms have appeared since my diagnosis...
Sam H: Telangiectasia I have had telangiectasias since I was two years old. I am now fourteen...
Sharon: CREST with Limited Scleroderma, Sjögren's and Pulmonary Hypertension (Australia) Day by day I discover another food I cannot eat...
Sheila: CREST with Limited Scleroderma I felt really scared, confused, and dehumanized in the process of my diagnosis...
Yvonne Frasure: CREST and Fibromyalgia I no longer go to the doctor because I simply cannot afford it. I cannot get insurance so everything is out of pocket...
References
(1) Dermatologic Disorders: Diagnosis of Skin Diseases - Telangiectasia. The Merck Manual.
(2) Telangiectasia definition: Derived from Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

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