I lived with rosacea redness for 15 years before discovering what it was. I thought I was allergic to my skincare regimen, so I changed cleansers all the time, but nothing helped. Then, I was told it was stress, so I began meditation. Again, nothing seemed to help until I read about what rosacea is. Now I use a V-Beam laser treatment at my favorite spa, Bella Medspa in Clarksville, TN, that keeps my rosacea under control.
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic but common skin condition that affects the face and eyes. Once in a while, you will see areas of rosacea on the chest, neck, or other areas. The skin ailment includes redness, pimples, and broken blood vessels. I was 30 when my rosacea first appeared, and no dermatologist or physician could tell me why I am part of more than 14 million people in the U.S. to have rosacea.
Rosacea begins with easy blushing and flushing of the face. Eventually, redness persists around the nose area. This redness extends to the different areas of the face and eyes. Rosacea has different clinical symptoms and is classified into four specific types based on symptoms.
- Prerosacea – frequent episodes of flushing and blushing on the face and neck.
- Vascular rosacea – The blood vessels under the skin lead to swollen and warm skin. These symptoms are common in women.
- Inflammatory rosacea – pimples and enlarged blood vessels, mostly on the face.
- Rhinophyma – enlarged oil glands in the nose and cheeks cause bulbous and enlarged red nose (mostly in men).
Rosacea also can affect the eyes. These symptoms are:
- Redness
- Burning
- Tearing
- Tearing
- Inflamed eyelids
- The sensation of something in the eye
Note that rosacea may resemble dermatologic conditions like acne. Check with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis using medical history and a physical exam.
Laser Therapy for Rosacea
Laser treatment is one of the most popular medical treatments for rosacea if you already have rosacea or need to halt rosacea’s progress. Clinical studies prove that lasers treat broken blood vessels and chronic redness and reduce flushing, blotchiness, stinging sensations, small red inflammatory papules, and swelling.
Laser treatment targets the symptoms of rosacea, which include thickening the skin and recurring patches of visible blood vessels. Bella Med Spa uses a V-beam laser that safely and effectively improves your complexion only in a few treatments.
Laser treatment decreases the number of visible blood vessels under the skin and reduces the appearance of rosacea. However, laser treatment does not cure rosacea but alleviates the symptoms.
Laser treatment includes directing a light beam of a certain wavelength at areas on your face. For rosacea, laser treatments are often recommended in combination with other treatments to manage the symptoms effectively. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends laser sessions every 3-4 weeks, but treatment times can vary.
After laser treatment, most patients see a 50-75 percent reduction in visible blood vessels after the first three treatments. The benefits of laser treatment are not permanent, however. Most treatments last for 3-5 years for needed follow-up appointments.
Types of laser therapy include:
Pulsed dye laser (PDL) targets the protein hemoglobin in red blood cells and converts light energy into heat energy. The heat destroys the problematic blood vessels under the skin’s surface.
Carbon dioxide laser (CO2) lasers are considered shaping lasers. They work by reshaping parts of the face inflamed or bruised from rosacea. This laser is often used to treat rhinophyma or rosacea on the nose.
Erbium lasers promote collagen remodeling or rearrange the connective tissue of the skin. This laser type is popular for treating fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, and age spots. Erbium lasers are ablative or on-ablative. Ablative lasers remove the top layer of your skin, and non-ablative lasers heat up the underlying skin tissue and keep the surface layer intact. Both types encourage the skin to make new tissue.
In laser treatment, the laser device is directed to areas of skin affected by rosacea. The laser emits pulses of energy, and it is only mildly painful. Your laser therapist may apply a topical pain reducer if necessary.
Recovery time is about two weeks. The skin may be raw and worn and scab as it heals. Avoid potential sources of infection, like swimming pools, until your skin has recovered.
Laser-treated skin is hypersensitive to sun exposure. Therefore, wear an SPF of at least 30 to prevent burns.
Risks and Side Effects
Laser therapy is a safe and very effective way to treat rosacea symptoms. There may be, however, a few potential side effects that include:
- Mild pain during and after treatment
- Temporary redness
- Rash of purple or red that clears in about two weeks,
- Skin that feels itchy or tight.
Contact Bella MedSpa if you are experiencing rosacea breakouts. Reserve a consultation and an appointment time by visiting https://bellamedspa.com or calling the clinic at 931-245-0500. We also offer virtual consultations that can be arranged through our website.
