Laser treatments for rosacea are a very popular and well known treatment method. This is true simply for one, very good, solid reason: studies have shown laser and light treatments to be an effective measure in reducing the severity of various common rosacea symptoms.
While there are different types of treatments, including a non-laser light source known as IPL, one of the most popular laser treatments for rosacea is called PDL.
PDL stands for Pulsed Dye Light. Pulsed Dye Light treatments have been used since the 1980′s to target a variety of skin conditions and ailments, including rosacea, but also other things such as wrinkles, scars, and hair removal.
While the Pulsed Dye Laser treatments can effect more than just these symptoms, PDL treatments primarily target two things. First, the visibility or blood vessels on the face and secondly, it targets the general flushing condition so common for those with rosacea.
For anyone who is considering PDL laser treatments, it’s important to note that the treatments intentionally induce bruising on the skin. It’s been determined that bruising actually improves the effectiveness of PDL treatments for rosacea! These bruises are obviously going to be in a very visible spot – the face and neck of the person receiving treatments – and last from a week to two weeks.
However, it is possible to request and receive PDL laser treatments that do not induce bruising. The resulting treatments though are not as effective than they would be with bruising.
It’s important to note a couple things here in regards to PDL laser treatments:
- It’s standard to receive multiple treatments, typically 3-6 treatments. These treatments cannot be done in succession and must be spaced apart appropriately, giving the body time to react to the treatments before the next session begins.
- The laser treatments themselves do cause a bit of pain in the rosacea patients receiving them. This is true for all laser and light treatments, and PDL is no expection. One source describes the pain like that of being hit with a rubber band. Pain medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen should not be taken because these specific drugs can lead to additional bruising. However, consult with your doctor before doing so, but generally, it’s considered safe to take certain other over the counter medicines, such as tylenol. During treatments, some clinics blow cold air onto the surface of the skin to reduce discomfort caused by PDL. Also note that while there are topical gels that can be applied to the skin to reduce sensitivity, these are usually avoided because they often shrink the blood vessels temporarily, thus making it harder for PDL treatments to target those very same blood vessels.
- PDL treatments are expensive, and usually run into the thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, insurance companies might not offer coverage or reimbursements for such specialized treatments.
- PDL is not a cure for rosacea. While effective in the majority of people treated, not everyone responds to rosacea laser treatments in the same way. It does not work for everyone. Patients need to understand what’s considered realistic results before going in for treatments.
If you’d like to have PDL treatments to target the flushing and blood vessels brought on by rosacea, consult with your dermatology doctor today and see what can be done to help you with PDL rosacea treatments.
