Telangiectasia
Pronunciation: tel-AN-jee-ek-TAY-zhuh
Small, dilated superficial blood vessels visible on the skin surface, commonly associated with photoageing, rosacea, and as a complication of certain aesthetic procedures.
Full Definition
Telangiectasia (plural: telangiectasias or telangiectases) refers to chronically dilated small-calibre dermal vessels—capillaries, venules, or arterioles—that become visible through the skin as fine red, purple, or blue lines or mats. In aesthetic dermatology, they are a hallmark feature of photoageing and rosacea, and can also arise as a complication of topical corticosteroid overuse, radiotherapy, or aggressive resurfacing procedures. Treatment options include laser therapy (e.g., pulsed dye laser, Nd:YAG) and intense pulsed light (IPL). Editors should note the preferred spelling: 'telangiectasia' (singular), 'telangiectasias' or 'telangiectases' (plural). The common misspelling 'telangiectasia' with a transposed 'i' and 'a' should be caught in proofreading. The adjectival form is 'telangiectatic'.
Usage
Usage note: Singular: 'telangiectasia'; preferred plural: 'telangiectasias' (US) or 'telangiectases' (UK specialist). Adjectival form: 'telangiectatic'. A common proofreading catch: letter transposition produces 'telangeictasia'—flag and correct.
In Context
- "Facial telangiectasias distributed across the nose and cheeks were treated with a 595 nm pulsed dye laser." — Laser treatment record
- "The manuscript inconsistently uses 'telangiectasia' and 'telangiectases' as plurals; standardize to 'telangiectasias' per house style." — Copy-editing note