Changes in our skin as we age are inevitable, including loss of moisture, changes in…
Rosacea Laser Treatment – How to tame physical symptoms and control the psychological impact
Rosacea presents with persistent diffuse redness on the face, typically centred around the cheeks, chin, forehead and nose. This effect is often accompanied by blood vessels which dilate and become visible through the transparency of the skin, resulting in facial thread veins. Persistent facial redness appears like sunburn and is known as Erythema.
The red flushing of Rosacea if often aggravated when exposed to a stimulus which acts as a trigger, and repetitive flushing can promote inflammation which, in turn, creates problematic pustules and papules.
It stands to no wonder that this condition serves as a cause of great embarrassment for many sufferers, especially owing to the misconception among a number of people that the redness is caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
This embarrassment can spiral into feelings of frustration and reduced self-confidence, and even induce ingrained phobias of blushing or flushing for the distress they might cause in social situations. And there’s little which can exacerbate any condition we face more than mentally surrendering to the anxiety it causes.
In truth, there is no known cause behind the development of Rosacea. The skin condition is a long-term one most commonly first diagnosed in patients who fall in the 30 to 50 years old bracket.
Rosacea is more common than you might think, affecting in the region of 12% of the population and often many cases remain undiagnosed. It’s very easy for a Rosacea sufferer to assume they simply blush easily or have extra sensitive skin and give the condition no further thought.
Whilst the treatment of Rosacea is aimed predominantly at minimising and managing symptoms, rather than curing, if the condition remains undiagnosed it can grow in severity, resulting in an enlarged red nose known in medical circles as Rhinophyma.
If you’re experiencing redness on the face or cheeks (Erythema), frequent flushing or blushing, dilated blood vessels (Telangiectasia, aka facial thread veins), severe acne or a burning sensation on the face, there’s a strong chance you might be suffering from Rosacea.
How does the treatment work?
The procedure involves the use of Pulsed Dye 595nm lasers to treat diffuse redness, blush and facial flushing. This laser has now massively superseded Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) devices.
Nd YAG 1064nm LP and KTP 532nm LP lasers are also utilised to treat discrete blood vessels. The Nd YAG laser is ideal for targeting deep-red, purple or blue vessels of all diameters and the KTP laser is best suited to smaller diameter bright-red vessels.
Lasers target the blood in the skin selectively, which absorbs the energy, heating up the vessel walls and causing them to collapse. Once dispersed, your body takes care of the rest.
The beauty of the process lies in the pinpoint precision with which the laser can target haemoglobin within the blood, producing the desired results without collateral damage to the surrounding skin.
Our Pulsed Dye laser is the V Beam Perfecta manufactured by Candela in the USA. This laser is the most peer reviewed laser in the world. Our Nd YAG laser is the Elite Plus produced in the USA by Cynosure and our KTP laser is the QuadroStar PRO from Asclepion Technologies in Germany
Troublesome pustules and papules are best managed with oral antibiotics that act via their anti-inflammatory not anti-bacterial effect. Topical treatments may also be recommended in adjunct to oral medication and laser treatment.
This is why it is so important to get a specialist medical consultation as often multiple treatment modes including prescription medication may be required at the same time for optimal results.
What to expect
Before you begin any treatment course, you’ll need to arrange a consultation with a dedicated medical doctor at a specialist laser clinic. Rosacea treatment is not offered at all clinics, so be sure you find a suitable practitioner.
Here at the Cambridge Laser Clinic, we offer free consultations with absolutely no obligations should you decide on an alternative approach. If you’d like to book a consultation at our laser clinic, you can contact us here.
During your consultation, your specialist will assess the suitability of the treatment for your particular case, ensure your expectations are appropriately set and discuss what you can expect from the treatment and aftercare.
The procedure itself is relatively free of pain, though you can expect a minor level of discomfort. The experience has been likened by past patients to the snapping of a thin rubber band on the skin while the short flashes of light delivered by the laser gently penetrate the skin.
Patients suffering from discrete blood vessel concerns can expect on average 1 to 2 treatments at 8 to 10 weekly intervals depending on the severity of their condition. Those with diffuse redness should prepare for a slightly longer course of treatment, typically in the region of 2 to 4 sessions at monthly intervals.
Laser treatment of Rosacea is considered exceptionally safe. There are, however, some potential side effects you should consider.
It is possible, though not especially common, for patients to experience redness and irritation of the treated area akin to a sunburn lasting 24-48 hours post procedure. Very rarely there is a chance of a minor pigment change to the treated area, and in rare of cases, patients have been known to develop transient bruising or blistering.
None of these potential after-effects is anything to be concerned over, and will settle within a matter of days.
Thanks to advanced protocols and techniques, along with the finest array of lasers at our disposal, we here at the Cambridge Laser Clinic can proudly offer Rosacea treatment with little or no downtime to your life.
Your particular recovery time will be discussed with you during your consultation, however, you can expect a swift return to your regular routine.
Placing your treatment in the hands of a caring professional at a reputable laser clinic will also offer you the opportunity to discuss and grasp a true understanding of your condition.
A dedicated medical doctor can help you discover potential triggers to a flare-up such as exposure to temperature extremes, vigorous exercise or the food and drink you’re consuming. Once stimuli have been identified, you’re that much better equipped to combat your condition in the long run.
Pricing
Owing to the variety of cases, most laser clinics will charge you at a cost per session. Procedure prices at Cambridge Laser Clinic are as follows:
Area to be treated | Price per Session |
Very minor
(nose) |
From £125 |
Minor (cheeks and nose) |
From £200 |
Intermediate
(cheeks, nose and chin) |
From £250 |
Major
(entire face) |
From £300 |
We also perform test patches charged at £50.
Further Reading
While we have done our best to provide as much of the core information you could need before approaching this procedure, we understand the desire for knowledge. That’s why we have collected together all the details concerning Rosacea treatment that you could possibly need thoroughly explained within our website.
And if you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a discussion or consultation.