Rosacea
Rosacea causes much frustration for sufferers who often try numerous topical treatments with minimal results. At Venus Medical, our vascular laser is one of the most effective therapies for redness, blood vessels, and rosacea. Rosacea is characterised by enlarged sebaceous glands and blood vessels, typically around the nose, cheeks, and chin. It can be mild, causing only redness, or more severe, manifesting as dilated “broken” vessels, bumpiness, and sensitivity. Harsh weather, spicy food, alcohol and heat can make the condition flare up. Although there is no permanent cure for rosacea, maintenance treatments can keep the condition at bay. We use advanced skin imaging to monitor and measure improvement of the condition over time.
What are the early signs of rosacea?
Rosacea is usually a clinical diagnosis. There’s no need for biopsies or special tests. If you have redness around your cheeks and nose it could be early rosacea. Eventually, actual visible blood vessels or “broken vessels” can become more obvious, and the skin can become sensitive or bumpy. Rosacea also typically flares up with certain stimulants like weather, alcohol, exercise or spicy food.
Do creams or tablets work?
It’s not known exactly how some topicals or oral medications work in improving rosacea, but for many people they can improve the appearance of redness or irritated, bumpy skin. Topicals include antibiotic gels and oral antibiotics at a low dose often help as well when they are taken for a few months.
Are all lasers the same or similar for treating rosacea?
No, not at all. The best lasers to treat rosacea are called vascular lasers. These powerful lasers selectively target blood vessels, the main component of rosacea. Vascular lasers include pulsed dye lasers and KTP lasers.
How many treatments will I need?
Each treatment with the laser improves the condition. In order to get excellent results we usually recommend a course of four treatments with intervals of about one month between treatments. The laser will reduce redness and clear many of the “broken capillaries”. It does not prevent new blood vessels from forming, so a maintenance treatment every 4-6 months with the V Beam laser is great at keeping the redness and rosacea at bay.
Do these laser treatments for rosacea hurt?
The laser has built-in cryogen cooling, so each pulse of laser is coupled with a short jet of freezing cryogen to cool the skin and provide comfort. For full face treatments, we also use CryAir, a cooling device that soothes the skin as the laser treatment proceeds.
Is there downtime?
The area is pink after the VBeam laser treatment. Larger vessels may become a little darker, like small bruises. Usually, it is not very obvious and you can return to work and wear makeup as desired the following day.