What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a potentially progressive neurovascular disorder which usually affects the face, cheeks, nose and forehead. Symptoms can include facial redness, inflammation, burning or warm tingly sensations. Some patients may also suffer from inflamed pustules or spots.
Rosacea is primarily a disorder of the facial blood vessels which undergo changes and become hyper responsive to internal and external stimuli such as sun exposure, heat, rich food, caffeine and alcohol.
How can it be treated?
Sufferers have traditionally been prescribed oral and topical antibiotics to reduce the effects of rosacea. However, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) has also been clinically proven to successfully reduce its effects.
Dr Patrick Bitter pioneered the use of IPL to treat rosacea in the USA and it is now widely regarded as one of the best treatments for rosacea sufferers. It works by using light energy to target capillaries in the skin. The light is absorbed by the skin which damages problem capillaries and allows them to be absorbed by the body through its natural processes. Once absorbed, the redness from rosacea will be less pronounced and, with multiple treatments, can disappear altogether.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments required depends on the severity of the rosacea. We usually recommend patients to have a course of three treatments, but this varies from patient to patient. Patients should be able to see improvements after the first session, and improvement will become more noticeable following subsequent sessions. Due to the high specification of the Vasculight IPL laser, fewer treatments will be required than with an inferior laser and improvements will appear more quickly than with medication.
Will it hurt and are there any side effects?
The treatment does not hurt, although some patients notice a sensation similar to the snap of an elastic band or a sting with each laser flash. This is a manageable pain, but if at any time patients find it too uncomfortable (which is very rare) they will just need to inform the practitioner.
The treatment shouldn’t disrupt your normal routine and patients will be able to return to their normal daily activities immediately. Some patients may experience some facial redness as a result of the heat from the laser. Patients can use cooling packs or gel to calm this, and patients will be able to use make-up to cover any redness. Occasionally patients may experience some bruising after the treatment which should subside within a few days.
When will I see the results?
Depending on the severity of your rosacea, you should notice an improvement a few days after your initial treatment. Results will improve with further treatments.
Our nurses will also be able to recommend products which will help to diminish the appearance of rosacea.
