Rosacea typically begins any time after age 30 as a redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. Over time, the redness becomes ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear. Left untreated, bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue. In many rosacea patients, the eyes are also affected, feeling irritated and appearing watery or bloodshot. Once you have Rosacea, you usually have it for the rest of your life.
Although rosacea can affect all segments of the population, individuals with fair skin who tend to flush or blush easily are believed to be at greatest risk.
What should I look for?
Redness - Facial redness from rosacea may appear similar to a blush or sunburn, and may be caused by flushing. Flushing may occur with the consumption of alcohol, hot drinks, stress, exercise or even certain foods.
Visible Blood Vessels - Visible blood vessels called telangiectasia (pronounced "tell-an-jek-TAY-zha") may appear on the surface of the skin in some patients. The small blood vessels on the face may grow permanently larger from flushing and eventually show through the skin. These enlarged blood vessels look like thin red lines on the face, usually on the cheeks or nose. These lines may be hidden by facial redness, but become more noticeable when the redness is cleared up. Medications and creams help with the facial redness but treating the facial blood vessels usually requires treatment with a laser or Intense Pulse Light.
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Bumps & Pimples - Rosacea sufferers often develop small, red, solid bumps known as papules, and/or pus-filled pimples known as pustules. These bumps and pimples may be inflamed and look similar to teenage acne.
Eye Irritation - In about half of rosacea patients, the eyes may be irritated and appear watery or bloodshot. In many cases, the eyes may feel as if a foreign object is present or feel "gritty." The eyelids may also become red and swollen, and styes are common.
Treatment
The signs and symptoms of rosacea vary substantially from one patient to another, and treatment must be tailored for each individual case.
Various oral and topical medications may be prescribed to treat the bumps, pimples and redness often associated with the disorder. Physicians usually prescribe initial treatment with oral antibiotics and topical therapy to bring the condition under immediate control, followed by long-term use of the topical therapy alone to maintain remission.
Until recently, the facial flushing, redness and facial blood vessels associated with Rosacea proved more difficult to treat. This has all change with the development Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL). For men and women, IPL can successfully treat dilated blood vessels and redness without injury to the surrounding skin, while greatly reducing the episodes of flushing with long term effectiveness.
How does IPL work?
IPL treats facial veins by emitting light energy that is absorbed by the blood cells in the veins. In a millisecond the blood in the vein heats up and literally “cooks” the vein from within. This process shuts the vein, and the vein is no longer visible. Over the next 3 months the body’s immune system eliminates the vein permanently.
Is the treatment painful?
At the beginning of your treatment, cool gel will be applied to the area to be treated. The hand piece for the IPL has a crystal that floats on the cool gel. When the IPL is “fired” the beam of light causes a slight stinging sensation, similar to the snapping of a rubber band.
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Do I have to take time off work?
No. The greatest advantage of IPL over other laser therapy is that there is very little “downtime”. Most patients leave the office with the face a little redder than normal. Similar to the appearance of your face after you exercise. By the next morning the redness is similar to your normal redness. By the end of the week you will start to see some fading of the redness in the veins.
How many treatments will I need?
Most patients see good improvement after 3 treatment sessions. Some may require as many as 5 treatment sessions. Sessions are every 3 weeks.
Are there any risks associated with IPL?
IPL is very safe. There have been no reported cases of burning or scarring since the introduction of IPL.
Can I do anything to prepare for my first treatment?
Yes! Bring any medicine or creams you have been using to your first visit. Your initial consultation at the laser studio is free. If you have a tan on your face you must loose your tan before you can start the treatment. If you have Rosacea , you should already be applying sun screen to your face every morning. If you are not , please start now! Certain medications and vitamins such as ASA, antiinflamatories (Advil®, Motrin®), vitamin E and even red wine may increase the possibility of bruising. Please do not stop important medications on your own without consultation with a physician at Contours MD or your own personal physician.
For more information please arrange a complimentary consultation with
our physician to determine the best recommendation for your particular needs.
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