# Is this a sign of the ravages of time or just booze?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-sign-of-the-ravages-of-time-or-just-booze/231695>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 29, 2004, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-sign-of-the-ravages-of-time-or-just-booze/231695 "2004-02-29T02:08:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-sign-of-the-ravages-of-time-or-just-booze/231695/1 "2004-02-29T02:08:07Z")

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I’ve noticed that I have recently aquired a few marks on my face, high up on my cheeks. They aren’t injuries or anything like that. They look like they might be broken veins?

I’m worried that having changed my tipple of choice from beer to whisky in the last couple of years, this could be causing it. I suppose I get through a bottle (litre) a month.

I’m 47 years old and have always looked a good deal younger than my age. I accept that, with age, my looks are going to change - and not always for the better - but I would really like to nip this “broken vein” thing in the bud if I can.

Does anyone know the reason for it and is there a way of stopping it or, even better, reversing it?

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**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-sign-of-the-ravages-of-time-or-just-booze/231695/2 "2004-02-29T13:07:58Z")

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I’m 20, non-drinker, and I have one of these near my left eye. I used to have one under each eye, but those went away.

I don’t know what they are, but two of mine did go away, so . . .

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**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-sign-of-the-ravages-of-time-or-just-booze/231695/3 "2004-02-29T13:21:42Z")

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I don’t know about your specific marks, but I would lean toward “ravages of time” rather than drinking. A liter a month is pretty moderate, IMHO, like maybe a drink a day? Heck, some doctors are recommending having that!

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**Author:** ![Triss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Triss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triss)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-sign-of-the-ravages-of-time-or-just-booze/231695/4 "2004-02-29T14:35:12Z")

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If you’re 47 and only just seeing these dilated facial capillaries or “spider” veins, then I’d say you’re ageing _very_ well. I’m not quite forty and I’ve had a few since my pregnancies in my 20’s. Mine are barely noticeable, but if they do get worse I’d consider doing something about them.

Here’s a link to a laser surgeon’s website with a good definition of _Telangiectasias_ and how laser treatment can help.

(On preview, the link didn’t work when coded for this board, so here’s the URL)  
[www.beautybeforeage.com/veins/veins\_face.htm](http://www.beautybeforeage.com/veins/veins_face.htm)