Rosacea is the chronic skin condition that appears as redness, flushing, broken capillaries and bumps on the face, neck and sometimes chest. Dermatologists have been using lasers to assist in the treatment of rosacea since the mid 1980’s. Both lasers and non laser light or intense pulsed light (IPL) are effective in reducing and even removing the persistent redness, thickening of the skin, dilated blood vessels and acne like bumps.
Pulse dye lasers target the redness in the skin. This laser heats the dilated veins in the face, causing the capillaries to swell internally. The swelling pushes the blood out of the veins and the vein is then reabsorbed by the body. Side effects to pulse dye treatments can include bruising or purpura at the treatment site. These will usually resolve in a week or two. Approximately four treatments are needed at six week intervals for effective results. Since rosacea is non curable, maintenance treatments may be required to keep the symptoms at bay.
Other lasers that can treat rosacea include the KTP laser, diode, and Nd: YAG. These lasers are less likely to cause a bruising to the skin immediately following treatment, however they may not be as effective in reversing the rosacea symptoms.
Intense pulsed light or IPL treatments have also proven to be very effective in reducing and eliminating the redness associated with rosacea. FDA approved for small dilated facial vessels since 1985, IPL treatments are safe and effective for fine dilated blood vessels, persistent redness, flushing and acne like bumps.
While laser treatments for rosacea will not cure the disease some dramatic results can be seen with consistent treatments. |
