Posts Tagged ‘erythema’

Rosacea PDL Laser Treatment

November 2nd, 2009

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.

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Rosacea IPL Laser Treatments

November 1st, 2009

For more than a decade now, laser and light treatments have been used as an effective measure to reduce the symptoms of rosacea.

One of the more popular treatments is known as IPL.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. It is also known by a other names, such as Photoderm, Fotoderm, and Photofacial.

Technically speaking, IPL Is not a laser treatments. In the case of a laser, one wavelength of light is emitted. For IPL, a spetrum of non-laser light sources is used. But for the sake of simplicity, all light based treatments tend to be discussed under the umbrella term of “laser treatments”, including IPL.

Here are some relevant facts and tidbits in regards to IPL rosacea laser treatment:

  • As mentioned, IPL emits not a single wavelength but instead emits light in a spectrum. In a treatment session, a doctor or trained medical specialist will use special IPL equipment. Depending on the type of equipment, treatments vary, but generally speaking, he or she will will have a hand held or hand controlled device that emits the IPL treatments. This device will be used against the area being treated. The doctor controls the intensity and duration of the treatments using this device.
  • IPL treatments are known to reduce the following symptoms: persistent facial redness and flushing, the visibility of dilated blood vessels, and the presences of red bumps known as papules and pastules.
  • It’s rare to only seek one treatment; more common is receiving 3-6 over a period of time.
  • IPL treatments are not considered as painful as other light and laser treatments. However, side effects include swelling, bruising, redness, and a lightening of the skin. These side effects are temporary and will go away.
  • After treatment, the area treated will need to be protected from sun exposure and other aggravating factors that trigger your rosacea symptoms.
  • IPL treatments for rosacea run in the thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, insurance rarely covers such treatments. Prices vary, but a good rule of thumb is to expect treatment costs to run up to $5,000.

Having realistic expectations about the results obtainable from IPL rosacea treatments is mandatory. There is no cure for rosacea, and IPL is not effective for everyone who receives it. That being said, doctors and dermatologists have seen very good results using these IPL treatments to reduce the symptoms of rosacea, and it is good to know that the majority of patients do respond very well to IPL rosacea treatments.

If you’d like to learn more about how IPL may help reduce the facial flushing, redness, and breakouts caused by rosacea, talk to your dermatologist today.

Also see:  PDL Laser Treatments for Rosacea.

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Rosacea Laser Treatment Options

November 1st, 2009

Over the last few decades, the use of laser treatment and light treatment devices have become an established rosacea treatment method for targeting the onset or intensity of common rosacea symptoms.

This primarily includes the following rosacea symptoms:

  1. the presence of visible, dilated blood vessels on the face
  2. persistent flushing and facial redness (erythema)
  3. an enlargement of the nose (rhinophyma)

There are many different types of laser and light treatments available in regards to treating rosacea, including:

  • PDL (Pulsed Dye Laser)
  • IPL (Intense Pulse Light)
  • KTP Laser (Potassium Titanyl Phosphate Laser)
  • Diode Laser
  • CO2 Laser (Carbon Dioxide Laser)
  • YAG Laser (Erbium: Yttrium Aluminium Garnet Laser)
  • YAG Laser (Nd: Yttrium Aluminium Garnet Laser)

PDL rosacea treatment and IPL rosacea treatment are far more commonly used to treat rosacea over the other laser and light treatment methods listed above. However, it should be noted that specifically when it comes to treating rhinophyma, the CO2 and nD: YAG laser are often used.

Here are some important points to note in regards to laser treatments for rosacea.

  • Laser treatments are not a rosacea cure and not every person is going to respond the same way to the same treatments. This means that some individuals will not see the results they were looking for using rosacea laser and light treatments. Having realistic results going into treatments is important.
  • It is good to know though that the majority of persons who receive treatments find them to be effective at reducing a variety of rosacea symptoms.
  • Treatments are not a one-time experience. It’s common to book 3-6 appointments for maximum results. It’s also common for people to use laser treatments at different times over the years. As with all aspects of rosacea treatment, it’s a life time affair, and laser treatments can be incorporated into this over the years.
  • Rosacea laser treatments are fairly expensive, and patients should expect to spend $1,000-$5,000 for their sessions. Insurance may or may not cover these – more often than not, the payment comes from the patient. It’s entirely common to take out a medical loan or work out a payment plan with the laser clinic in order to afford these costly treatments.
  • Laser and light treatments cause considerable pain, but rarely is this going to result in a person turning away the treatments. The pain is often compared to a stinging or pinching sensation. To reduce discomfort, clinics may blow cold air onto the skin during the sessions. Certain over the counter medications can interfere with the effectiveness of treatments, so before taking anything, consult with your doctor.

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Facial Redness vs Rosacea

October 29th, 2009

Doctors note that one of the classic conditions always associated with the skin condition known as rosacea is that of persistent facial redness. Facial redness is common for all types and subsets of rosacea, from ocular rosacea to papulopustular posacea and so on.

In this situation, the facial redness experienced can be specifically classified as erythema. According to wikipedia, the term erythema is defined as:

“…redness of the skin, which can be caused by several things, including capillary congestion.”

That being said, individuals sometimes regard the condition of erythema as simple a symptom of rosacea, when in fact, it is a skin problem that exists outside of just the rosacea realm.

However, as it the case with rosacea, the cause of erythema is often shrouded in mystery. In up to half the cases, the cause remains unknown. However, unlike rosacea, there are some causes that have been identified. Erythema in 50% or more of cases is idenfitied as caused by such diverse things as allergies, exercising, sunburn, plucking or waxing body hair, massage, infection, and, cruelly, even by some of the medications used to treat acne!

Individuals with rosacea are often rightly described as having erythema due to the persistent presence of redness on the face and neck. The type of rosacea primarily identified with facial redness over other symptoms (such as bumps or eye irritation) is known as Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea. Along with the persistent facial redness, an individual with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea may experience symptoms such as stinging and burning sensations in the face along with a general swelling of the face, technically known as “facial edema”.

Individuals with rosacea who experience persistent facial redness should only take medications prescribed or recommended by their doctor to treat this condition. It is not necessarily a good idea to take over the counter medicines marketed towards treating the general condition of “facial redness” as some of these may not be appropriate for individuals diagnosed with rosacea. It is unfortunate that some medications can act as rosacea triggers, worsening the condition of the problem that they are trying to treat. Doctors and dermatologists should offer guidance in this respect for both individuals with facial redness and individuals with facial redness that is part of their rosacea diagnosis.

For more information on the type of rosacea most strongly associated with strong facial redness/erythema (Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea), and all other identified types of rosacea, you can do at our post here:  Types of Rosacea.

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Rosacea Symptoms

October 28th, 2009

Rosacea symptoms vary but all typically relate to facial redness and a discomfort of the skin on the face and neck. While there are 4 identified types of rosacea, as well as a handful of variant rosacea subsets, the symptoms experienced by people diagnosed with one type or another often cross over between one another.

Below you will find a a list of eight of the most common symptoms that are associated with rosacea. This includes the most commonly associated symptoms of rosacea, but beware that it is not all inclusive, as individuals may experience additional related symptoms of rosacea not included here.

1. Facial Flushing
2. Facial Redness (Erythema)
3. Visible Blood Vessels
4. Increased Facial sensitivity
5. Papules and Pustules (red bumps and rep bumps with pus, respectively)
6. Burning and Itchy Sensations on the Face and Neck
7. Dryness and Itchiness in the Eyes and Eyelies
8. Rhinophyma (An enflammed and enlarged nose, most common in males)

Those diagnosed with rosacea typically will not experience all these smyptoms, and the amount and degree to which the symptoms are experience vary wildly. (Out of the approximately 40 million people worldwide who suffer from rosacea, the majority of these individuals only suffer from mild rosacea symptoms.) Additionally, you will find that the 4 different types of rosacea that have been identified each map to specific symptoms more so than others. (See Types of Rosacea.)

Facial flushing and facial redness (erythema) tends to be the most commonly associated symptoms – and indicators -  of rosacea. Those experiencing nearly any of the other symptoms 3-8 typically suffer from facial flushing and redness as a result of the said symptom, such as the visibility of blood vessels on the face, which increases the appearance of facial redness.

Individuals experiencing the symptoms above would be well advised to see a doctor and have a diagnosis made on their condition in order to begin rosacea treatment. It is important to not confuse acne and rosacea with the papules and pustules ( symptom number 5 above), leaving rosacea both undiagnosed and improperly treated.

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