Benign hereditary telangiectasia is an inherited condition that causes dilated blood vessels on your skin and lips. Unlike other similar conditions, it does not cause any systemic symptoms.

Benign hereditary telangiectasia (BHT) is a rare condition that causes numerous small, dilated blood vessels to develop across your skin with discolored lesions around them.

While there are numerous types of telangiectasia, with many types of “spider veins” occurring with age and sun exposure, BHT is an uncommon subtype that may develop during early childhood. For this reason, experts think that there may be a genetic component.

BHT isn’t a systemic disease. However, since many of the signs mimic those of more serious conditions, it’s important that a doctor provides an accurate diagnosis.

Keep reading to learn more about BHT, including its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

BHT is also sometimes called hereditary benign telangiectasia, which differentiates it from a more serious condition called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

Previously called Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, HHT is an inherited condition that causes blood vessel malformations throughout the body. Unlike BHT, HHT is a systemic disease.

Signs of BHT are exclusive to the skin, but HHT can affect mucous membranes and internal organs, too. These include your brain, lungs, and liver.

Also, unlike HHT, BHT doesn’t typically cause bleeding. The bleeding associated with HHT can be life threatening, particularly if it occurs in the brain.

One of the first signs of HHT is a spontaneous and recurring nosebleed. This usually develops before telangiectasia occurs on the skin and mucosal areas of the body.

Possible complications of HHT include immune system dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. However, besides skin lesions that may change with age, BHT isn’t associated with any health complications.

BHT typically causes no symptoms other than cosmetic ones. This differs from HHT or other conditions that might cause more systemic symptoms.

You and a doctor may notice clinical signs along your skin and lips. Most commonly, BHT presents as round to oval-shaped lesions with underlying dilated blood vessels.

In general, BHT can cause:

  • spider veins that first develop on the legs, which can then spread to your trunk and arms
  • smaller dilated veins that may be encircled by lighter-colored halos
  • abnormal vein dilation along the lip area, but without bleeding
  • dilated veins that are red or purple, depending on skin tone, and then lighten with age
  • dilated veins that grow larger as you age
  • affected veins that don’t have any other symptoms, such as itching, bleeding, or burning

The exact cause of BHT isn’t known. However, experts think genetics and family history may play a role. It’s “idiopathic” because there’s no known trigger for this condition.

BHT tends to cause clinical signs starting in children ages 2 to 12 years, further suggesting a hereditary component. Sometimes, signs of BHT may be present at birth.

However, one 2017 case study discussed the emergence of BHT in a female who did not have a known family history of BHT. This suggests a possible sporadic development of this condition as well.

Other risk factors for BHT are seen in other types of telangiectasias, too. These include:

  • pregnancy
  • being female
  • sun exposure

Experts believe BHT follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. That means a parent has a 50% chance of passing it down to each child.

However, the exact genetics of BHT are not fully understood. Clinical studies are needed to determine how possible genetic mutations might play a role and whether it’s possible for BHT to develop without a family history.

Doctors can diagnose BHT with a physical exam. A dermatologist may recognize the signs and symptoms on the skin and may also ask you whether you have any known family history of BHT.

Part of a BHT diagnosis also involves ruling out other types of telangiectasias. As such, a dermatologist will look for more serious signs, such as bleeding and dilation of the veins along your mucosal membranes.

A doctor may also order a skin biopsy to help differentiate BHT from other vascular or systemic conditions.

Treatment isn’t medically necessary for BHT. However, some people may want to reduce the appearance of the dilated veins for cosmetic reasons.

In such cases, a dermatologist might recommend one of the following options:

  • Electrosurgery: First developed in the 1920s as a procedure to stop bleeding, electrosurgery is now widely used in various dermatologic settings. It may help BHT by removing lesions with electromagnetic-generated heat.
  • Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy: IPL may remove spider veins and help treat BHT with the help of polychromatic light waves.
  • Sclerotherapy: Healthcare professionals use sclerosing injections to treat several vascular conditions.
  • Vascular laser therapy: Another option to remove vein abnormalities is laser therapy, which uses heat to target blood vessels and destroy them. This is the preferred method for facial veins, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Aside from possibly treating the aesthetic effects of BHT, a dermatologist will ask you to monitor your skin for any changes.

Wearing sunscreen may also help decrease the appearance of BHT lesions. This is especially important in areas frequently exposed to the sun, such as your face, chest, and hands.

The overall outlook for BHT is positive. Unlike other telangiectasias that may pose more systemic effects like HHT, BHT does not cause any medical complications.

Still, it’s important a doctor examine any suspected signs of BHT in a child to rule out more serious conditions.

You may also experience changes in the shape and color of lesions as you age and continue to develop new ones in your upper body.

BHT isn’t a serious medical condition. Nevertheless, it’s important for a doctor to differentiate BHT from systemic conditions or other telangiectasia, such as HHT, which can have more serious health consequences.

There’s also no known way to prevent BHT at this time. While BHT doesn’t require treatment, some people opt to treat lesions if they’re bothersome from a cosmetic standpoint.