# Gin blossoms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2006, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441 "2006-02-28T12:00:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/1 "2006-02-28T12:00:21Z")
I have some broken blood vessels around my nose…Nothing serious! I don’t look one but like W.C. Feilds! In fact i’m pretty cute. But they bother me. It there anything I can do about them? I was thinking about the vericous vein treatment pregnent woman use. Any thoughts? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/2 "2006-02-28T12:44:33Z")
If they are like spider veins on the legs, a plastic surgeon can[ablate](http://www.seattlewomanmagazine.com/september05-3.htm) them. They inject them with a hypertonic solution that causes them to dry up. The body will reabsorb the protein. There’s also a newer laser ablation. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/3 "2006-02-28T13:24:06Z")
They could be a symptom of [rosacea](http://www.rosacea.org/) . A dermatologist can prescribe something to retard further development of them, and can probably also suggest a procedure to make them disappear or be less noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/4 "2006-03-10T15:11:09Z")
Sorry I didn’t get back sooner t0 say thanks…rosacea sounds about right. is there anything you know of I can do without a doctor? I’m already dealing with a lot including other medical treartment…anything over the counter? But anyway thanks, that sounds likely. And thanks picunurse, sounds like it might be just the thing…just a little scary 😛 . ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/5 "2006-03-11T22:20:19Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Sorry I didn’t get back sooner t0 say thanks…rosacea sounds about right. is there anything you know of I can do without a doctor? I’m already dealing with a lot including other medical treartment…anything over the counter? But anyway thanks, that sounds likely. > > And thanks picunurse, sounds like it might be just the thing…just a little scary 😛 . I have redness due to pregnancy hormones. I use the Eucerin Redness Relief cream and it WORKS. It is green so it takes the redness away. I also have this [lotion](http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=138060&catid=25328&trxp1=0&trx=26367&aid=332800) which is Murad Redness Therapy Recovery Treatment Gel also works to take the redness away. I’ve always had some rosacea, but the hormones turned by pale Irish skin–PURPLE. YMMV, of course, but I’d try the 15 dollar Eucerin before thousands on a doctor… ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/6 "2006-03-12T00:34:47Z")
Some folks say that flavinoids help to lessen the swelling of blood vessels in the face, but my veins did not respond to that. Laser treatment worked for me. The laser is tuned to seek the red of the vessel, and heats it to the point of explosion. You will have little red bruisy-looking places where the laser popped the vein, but after the skin heals the veins are gone. It was a little expensive but I’m very happy with the results. Wiki has a pretty good article on rosacea. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/7 "2006-03-15T20:03:16Z")
Interesing sj2. Although it’s definatly not pregnacy hormones 😛 . I’ll look in to that (as i really can’t afford a(nother) doctor riht now. flavinoids? I’ll look into that too (or is that related to sj2’s suggestion?) Anyway, I appreciate anythoughts on none medical (as in laser and doctors) thoughts. Thanks, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/8 "2006-03-15T23:22:03Z")
You may be interested in [this](http://www.wholehealthmd.com/hc/resourceareas_supp/1,1442,541,00.html) article. I also found [this book](http://www.drnase.com/book_rosacea.htm) to be helpful, in terms of things to avoid food & drug wise. Good luck! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/9 "2006-03-15T23:46:27Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Interesing sj2. Although it’s definatly not pregnacy hormones 😛 . I’ll look in to that (as i really can’t afford a(nother) doctor riht now. > > flavinoids? I’ll look into that too (or is that related to sj2’s suggestion?) > > Anyway, I appreciate anythoughts on none medical (as in laser and doctors) thoughts. > > Thanks, everyone. Just remember: You don’t want to take advice from fools! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/10 "2006-04-10T16:48:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Just remember: You don’t want to take advice from fools! 🙂 Are you calling him a fool? Seems more like a nitwit 😃 I called the pharmacy and they had no idea what I’m talking about. What the hell is a flavinoid? I hope I’m not crossing the line (again). Just asking for opinions so I know what to ask my doctor. And hoping for something OTC since I can’t afford laser surgery at this point. Thanks everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/11 "2006-04-10T16:53:35Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Are you calling him a fool? Seems more like a nitwit 😃 Yeah, they found out about you. ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/12 "2006-04-10T18:21:11Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Yeah, they found out about you. Personally, I didn’t believe it until I heard it from you. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/13 "2006-04-10T19:41:05Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Yeah, they found out about you. You know that’s not very nice, And I am far more a fool than a nitwit. FAR more a fool. So get your facts straight. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/14 "2006-04-10T21:52:25Z")
I had cauterization done, it cost about $200. It was totally worth it. And none came back and it’s been two years now. Hurt like hell and the scabs took about two weeks to completely fall off but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/15 "2006-04-11T02:17:56Z")
Medications for rosacea can treat the pimples that some people have with it, but not broken blood vessels. The only effective treatments for those are laser or even better, intense pulsed light (IPL). They are cosmetic treatments, which means insurance will not pay for them. I’m in the middle of IPL for very small broken capillaries on my cheeks, and I’m extremely happy with my progress. Yes, it is very expensive (I happen to work in a derm office, so mine are free), but if you can save up and even ask the doctor for a discount (it does happen once in a while, they set their own prices), it may be a good solution for you. If those treatments aren’t an option for you right now, I second the lotions with redness-reducers. And a green concealer. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gin-blossoms/346441/16 "2006-04-11T14:37:26Z")
**Ludovic** > [@](#): > > Yeah, they found out about you. And I bet it was a new miserable experience. (I trust some of the posters will get these obscure references).