If you have rosacea, chances are you may have already tried several treatment options to no avail. This may have caused you to develop a negative approach to alternative treatment options such as laser therapy. But can laser treatments really help your rosacea.
What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that is marked by flushing, persistent redness, and visible blood vessels (telangiectasias), beneath the skin. Some people with rosacea also have pimples around the mouth or on the cheeks.
The causes of rosacea are sometimes unclear, but leading triggers of rosacea flare-ups include spicy food, stress, alcohol, and excess sun exposure. These triggers cause the blood vessels in the face to expand, which in turn leads to facial redness and flushing.
Rosacea most often manifests on the face, particularly the forehead, cheeks, chin, and nose. People with fair skin that tend to flush easily are at greater risk for developing rosacea, but individuals with darker skin types can also be affected.
Rosacea Treatment
Although rosacea is not life-threatening, people with the condition often develop low self-esteem, because of the redness and inflammation that accompanies it.
Can laser treatments help my rosacea?
Yes. Patients with rosacea generally respond well to laser and light therapies. Although these treatments won’t completely eradicate the symptoms of rosacea, they can significantly minimize visible signs of the condition, and keep flare-ups in check. The results of treatment can last up to one year, but semi-annual touchups are sometimes required.
Yes. Patients with rosacea generally respond well to laser and light therapies. Although these treatments won’t completely eradicate the symptoms of rosacea, they can significantly minimize visible signs of the condition, and keep flare-ups in check. The results of treatment can last up to one year, but semi-annual touchups are sometimes required.
Vbeam Perfecta laser treatment for rosacea
When it comes to laser treatments for rosacea, the Vbeam Perfecta laser is considered the gold standard.
How it works
The Vbeam Perfecta is a pulsed-dye laser that emits an intense, controlled beam of light that selectively targets the blood vessels below the skin’s surface, without damaging the skin. The blood within the vessels absorbs the laser light, and this causes the veins to collapse. The body naturally eliminates the blood vessels over time, and this helps get rid of rosacea redness.
Treatment with the Vbeam Perfecta is not painful, but patients report feeling a tingling or warm sensation during treatment. The laser is equipped with a dynamic cooling system that releases a cooling mist onto the treatment area before the laser light is emitted. The burst of cooling mist helps reduce discomfort during treatment, and it also protects the skin.
The Vbeam laser is FDA cleared for treating rosacea as well as other skin conditions such as acne scars, angiomas, and vascular lesions. The laser has an excellent safety profile, and has been linked to only a few incidences of adverse effects.
There is minimal to no downtime after treatment with the Vbeam laser, so patients are generally able to get back to regular activities right away. There may be some mild swelling and redness in the treated areas, but this typically resolves within a few hours.
IPL for rosacea
IPL (intense pulsed light) is another very effective modality for treating the redness and flushing that characterizes rosacea. IPL devices emit a broad spectrum of light that can be modified using a filter. IPL for rosacea is a highly customizable treatment, as the provider can adjust the wavelength as well as the number of pulses, in order to address the different aspects of rosacea.
How it works
The IPL device emits pulsed light that is directed onto the targeted blood vessels every few seconds. The mechanism of action is the same as it is with laser therapy, as the blood vessels absorb the light, and the heat then causes the blood vessels to close.
The skin will be somewhat red and inflamed after rosacea treatment, but this should only last for a few hours. There is no downtime, so patients can get back to their regular daily activities right after treatment.
IPL treatment for rosacea takes about 40 minutes to complete. A series of 3-6 IPL sessions spaced about 4 weeks apart is normally recommended for best results. Severe cases of rosacea will require more IPL treatments.
If you are in the Long Beach CA area, contact Laser Skin Care Center Dermatology Associates for more information on laser treatments for rosacea.
Call (562) 724-1161today to schedule a consultation.