Rosacea or “adult acne” is a chronic, progressive condition of the central face involving the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Over 13 million Americans suffer from the condition. If left untreated, Rosacea tends to worsen over time.
Rosacea or “adult acne” is a chronic, progressive condition of the central face involving the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Over 13 million Americans suffer from the condition. If left untreated, Rosacea tends to worsen over time.
For those who have been diagnosed with Rosacea, there is treatment available. Lasers today are capable of treating dilated blood vessels, persistent redness, and thickening skin on the nose and cheeks (also known as rhinophyma). The pulsed dye laser (PDL) has been used for years to treat the flushing and visible blood vessels of rosacea. After just one treatment, most patients will find significant improvement. With two treatments, redness can be decreased by 50%. Patients also reported reductions in flushing, itching, dry skin, burning, swelling and sensitivity. Patients state that they have significantly improved their quality of life after completing rosacea laser treatments.
Most patients respond very well to 2-4 laser treatments. Each treatment is spaced by one month from the last. The procedure takes about 15-20 minutes and you can resume your daily activities immediately.
The laser device preps the skin with a blast of chilled air just prior to the laser light. This reduces the discomfort to a very acceptable level. The pulse of laser light may feel like a pinch similar to a snapping rubber band.
There are no changes in activities or medications before or after treatment. Sun light should be minimized before and after the procedure. Laser treatments should not be performed on tanned skin.
Side effects include temporary bruising, which may last for 1 week. While bruise-free treatments are possible without new pulsed dye laser, small amount of bruising can be expected. Researchers have concluded, however, that bruising leads to a consistent decrease in redness.
