Fighting Redness: The Top Treatment for Rosacea
04 Apr 2022
Rosacea is a skin condition that causes redness, the overproduction of oil, broken capillaries, and reactions to topical products and food/beverages. This condition is sometimes mistaken for acne because it can produce small pustules on the face. Rosacea can affect anyone, but it is most common among middle aged women with lighter skin tones. With consistent facials and at-home care, you can see significant improvement in the appearance of your Rosacea.
WHAT IS ROSACEA?
Rosacea is very common genetic condition in America that affects many of those with fair skin and is typically diagnosed by a dermatologist. Symptoms of this skin condition include:
- Facial redness- Persistent redness in the center of the face. Small blood vessels present.
- Swollen, red bumps- Can resemble acne, sometimes contain pus.
- Eye problems- Dry irritated eyes, swollen eyelids. (Ocular rosacea)
- Enlarged Nose- Over time rosacea can thicken the skin on the nose. This is more common in men than women.
Many rosacea patients show these symptoms on their face, but not all of the symptoms need to be present for diagnoses. The cause of rosacea is unknown, however there are some factors that have led to triggering the flare up of rosacea. These triggers include:
- Hot Drinks or Spicy food
- Alcoholic beverages
- Extreme temperatures and wind
- Intense exercise
- Various cosmetic products with harsh ingredients
- Stress
Those that struggle with rosacea often turn drugstore products and fad diets in hopes of curing their Rosacea. These dead end remedies can actually cause long-term damage your skin instead of benefits. Once diagnosed, it is important to consult with a licensed professional before starting any skincare regimen or lifestyle change. Proper, consistent medical grade skincare and facial treatments have led to significant improvement of rosacea over time, as well as implementing a healthier lifestyle to avoid the emotional, food, temperature and skincare stressors. For stress relief, try yoga, meditation and journaling. Avoiding all hot drinks and spicy foods is essential, but things like dairy, soy sauce, avocado, eggplant, spinach, tomato, lime, vinegar, bananas and chocolate can also trigger rosacea symptoms. Protect your skin from harsh temperatures and winds, and ALWAYS use SPF to avoid sun damage. Luckily, for those struggling with rosacea, SKN BAR Rx has many treatments to help treat this condition including laser therapy and proven skincare products.
TREATING ROSACEA WITH LASER THERAPY
One of the top services among our rosacea patients is laser treatment. At SKN BAR RX, we are proud to use best-in-class lasers to deliver the greatest results possible. Our Sciton BBL (Broad Band Light) Laser delivers broadband light energy into the skin to treat address the symptoms of rosacea. While there is no cure of this skin condition, BBL treatments — known at SKN BAR as our Redness Laser — offers effective and longest lasting improvements.
In addition to rosacea, BBL has also been found the heal skin conditions such as acne, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles. These lasers emit bright lights at a high energy level to stimulate your skin to produce more collagen and break the uneven tone to your skin. Thermal energy can be used to remove vessels on the skin, leaving the visible redness reduced and creating a more even appearance to the skin.
Most rosacea patients notice after multiple BBL treatments their redness and facial vessels are no longer visible. These treatments are recommended in series of at least 6 spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Here at SKN BAR RX, the first step in your journey be a skin analysis in our OBSERVE 520. This analysis will help us to customize your treatment plan. Next, your provider will review your medical history and lifestyle before starting the treatment — this will allow us to determine your plan is safe and effective.
Next, we will begin your treatment. There is little to no discomfort. Some patients have described the sensation as a rubber band snap with a mild warmth to the skin. At SKN BAR Rx, we offer our patients a cooling system during their BBL treatment to help minimize any potential discomfort.
One great aspect about BBL therapy is it offers minimal downtime. After each treatment your provider will send you home with post-care instructions including product recommendations. The treated area may be more visibly red than usual, the brown spots on the skin will also appear darker at first before they begin to fade. Your results from BBL will continue to improve over time and can be enhanced with at-home skincare routine. SPF is a must after receiving any BBL treatment.
Before
After
Depending on the severity of the skin condition, multiple treatments may be needed after the initial series is complete. Some patients receive maintenance treatments once a year, some every couple months. In addition, to calming the appearance of rosacea, continuous Redness Laser treatments reap additional benefits such as:
- Smoothing and firming of your complexion
- Triggering collagen and elastin production
- Overall aiding in the anti aging process
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
As we’ve mentioned above, a great way to maximize your laser treatment results is to incorporate medical grade skincare into your regimen. Products that can prolong the improvement of your Redness Laser (BBL) series include:
- SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum
- SkinBetter Science Even Tone Serum
- ZO Rozatrol Serum
- ZO Growth Factor Serum
- Skinmedica TNS Growth Factor Serum
- Skinmedica Advanced Growth Factor Serum
We always recommend that patients pre-treat their skin with some sort of regimen before they treat with BBL. Doing this can even improve your skin concerns to a point where you wouldn’t need as many Redness Laser treatments!
Before booking your Redness Laser appointment, you should first reserve a complimentary laser consultation with one of our laser experts to ensure this treatment is right for you. If BBL therapy isn’t the best option to treat your condition, we offer an array of additional services that can help address rosacea, including chemical peels and facials!
