Capillaries are small dilated capillaries that often occur in the skin of the face, chest and neck and are caused by a variety of factors that cause flushing of the facial skin. Genetics, cumulative sun damage, acne, spicy foods, exercise, emotions, hormonal medications and some rare skin conditions all play a role in the formation of skin capillaries. Lasers offer by far the best treatment for capillary dilation. The hemoglobin within the blood vessels absorbs more laser light at a specific wavelength than the surrounding normal tissue, called selective photothermal action of the laser. The absorption of laser energy by hemoglobin causes thermal destruction of the dilated blood vessels, while the surrounding normal skin is not damaged. Laser treatment produces the sensation of a mosquito bite, or a sensation like a leather band being pulled apart and striking the skin. The vast majority of patients can be treated without any medication. For larger areas, preoperative sedation or pain medication may be used. The treated area may have a temporary red or purple color after treatment. In a few cases, blistering may occur. Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation will occur in very few cases and scarring is extremely unlikely. Most patients with capillary dilation are cured after a single treatment. More extensive and severe capillary dilation may require multiple treatments. In most cases, results are seen immediately. Occasionally, bruising may occur after laser treatment and the final results will not be seen until the bruising has subsided. The vast majority of capillary dilation can be cured. Patients with darker skin tones have poorer results and may require multiple treatments. After treatment, use sunscreen until the skin tone returns to normal. Care should be taken when cleaning the skin and topical antibiotic ointment may be used if there are blisters or crusts. Postoperative care is needed to protect the skin from the sun and to avoid triggers for recurrence. Capillary dilation in the nose is prone to recurrence due to its high vascular pressure.