Broken/Busted Capillaries on my Toddler's Face

[eveyray]

My son just turned 2 this past May. We've noticed within the last 4 months or so, when he gets angry... and I mean angry like a Terrible Two Tantrum type deal, he shakes violently, turns red, and when he is done crying/screaming - his entire face is covered in what appears to be busted/broken capillaries... all around his eyes, cheeks, lips, forehead... near his ears.  Its almost like this insane rash covering all his face, it looks painful but he doesn't appear to be in pain from it. When I touch the surface of his skin tiny little bumps are there... so very tiny almost unnoticeable. But there just the same. It usually takes about a full week for them to go away as long as he doesn't have another episode within that time. He has been (before he turned 2) a very happy and loving child who almost never got mad or upset and now all the sudden every once and a while he gets these episodes which leave his entire face in this "rash".  I don't know if this relates, but when he gets hot (from the weather) his cheeks, near his ears, and around his eyes become red... He is not being abused or anything like that when he gets in these moods. He had an episode last night because we had him put down his cookie so we could change his diaper... Anyways - I am wondering what is causing this to happen - if there is anything we can do to make the "rash" go away, and how we can prevent this in the future... its like he is the incredible hulk! You dont want to make him angry! Ha....

[eveyray]

After looking at pictures online, I would definitely say that he has something similar to Telangiectasia on his face... but it is only when he gets mad. Also, it disappears within a matter of days... the longest has been a week... and does not come back again unless he is upset and has a tantrum. Again, is it normal to only appear when one is angry? And is is normal to disappear? If he does have Telangiectasia, is that a sign that something is internally wrong with his blood vessels? Would our daughter be at risk for developing this too? Would this be a sign of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia mutation? I have no one on my side of the family, that I know of who has blood vessel problems or who gets a rash when they are upset. I do not know of anyone on my husband's side either.

He is only 2 years old and does not have any medical history of venous hypertension, rosacea, skin trauma, or use of steroids. He has only been hospitalized once for surgery on his feet... since his left foot is clubbed (his father and his grandfather have clubbed feet). No allergies to medications that we know of - he has had all his vaccinations with no side affects recorded. All in all he has been a healthy boy.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be due to telangiectasia. They are small dilated blood vessels present under the skin especially on the face. It can be due to environmental changes, skin trauma, overuse of steroids, rosacea or venous hypertension. Telangiectasias on the face are often treated with laser. My sincere advice is to consult a cosmetologist and discuss this with him.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.