Telangiectasia

Abstract

Telangiectases are common. They are described as ‘visible small blood vessels in the upper dermis, which blanch on pressure’ (Lawrence and Cox, 2002: 306). They may be seen on the skin, nailfolds and mucous membranes. In many cases there is no obvious cause. In others there may be an inherited factor, while in some, telangiectasia may be an indication of an associated disease process, related to the effect of a medication or an insult to the skin such as sun exposure or radiotherapy (Lawrence and Cox, 2002). Telangiectasia need not suggest specific diagnosis, but may be a sign that will sometimes add weight to the possibility of an underlying disease or aggravating cause.