If you are considering rosacea laser treatment, here are some facts that may help you to decide whether this is a good rosacea treatment option for your sensitive skin.

Did you know that one of out every five diagnoses made by dermatologists is for rosacea?

Rosacea is an unfortunately a very common chronic skin problem especially for people over 30. Some people begin to see signs of rosacea around age 25 with flushing and redness of the face.

If rosacea progresses, you will begin to see small red bumps on your face, some of which may look like acne sores. Eventually the face becomes permanently red and the skin thickens.

Although most rosacea sufferers are women, men who get rosacea are more likely to develop rosacea symptoms that cause the nose to become large and thickened.

If you begin to see signs that you may have rosacea, the time to take care of this is right now. Don’t wait! Even though there is no known medical cure for rosacea, you may be able to reverse or even eliminate many of the symptoms.

To do this you will need early rosacea treatment combined with healthy lifestyle and diet adaptations that will help your skin to stop the cycle of inflammation and redness.

Initial Rosacea Treatments

Most dermatologists will initially treat rosacea with medications and topical creams, along with lifestyle and dietary instructions to minimize your rosacea outbreaks.

Sometimes these rosacea treatments, combined with a more healthy natural diet, are enough to get your rosacea under control. Many cases of sensitive skin respond well to a less toxic diet and lifestyle. If not, then your doctor will likely recommend rosacea laser treatment.

Rosacea Laser Treatment

Rosacea laser treatments first were used in the 1980’s, and newer and gentler technologies were developed in the 1990’s. These have shown some promise in treating some of the more severe rosacea symptoms like red bumps, spider veins, thickened skin, and permanently reddened skin.

These do have some risks and side effects for sensitive skin, and so you want to be cautious in your approach, and to work with a very skilled dermatologist to minimize any risks.

How Laser Treatment Works

A laser emits wavelengths of light which act on the swollen blood vessels right below the skin which cause the redness. The laser effectively disintegrates the swollen blood vessels, thus reducing the redness in the skin.

Lasers can also stop the thickening of skin that happens with advanced rosacea which can enlarge the nose and cheeks. In severe cases of rosacea, lasers can help the skin to return to a more normal and healthy appearance.

Rosacea Laser Treatment Side Effects

When you have sensitive skin, it is wise to be cautious before trying any kind of laser or surgical treatments. It is always best to try all the other options first such as a rosacea diet, rosacea home remedies, and rosacea medications FIRST.

The reason for this is because laser treatments are intense. They cause temporary bruising which last 1-2 weeks before fading. You may also experience a temporary darkening of the skin. You may see a lot of swelling and redness on your face for a few days.

In addition, laser treatments are not a rosacea cure. You may need lifelong follow up treatments.

After all this, there is a chance that rosacea laser treatments may not work. And for some people, they may actually make your rosacea worse.

Types of Rosacea Laser Treatment

There are new technologies coming out all the time that are attempting to create the maximum benefits for rosacea patients, with a minimum of bruising, redness and other side effects.

Although some research suggests that laser treatments that induce bruising MAY be more effective, this isn’t an option that will work for many people who are unable to take several weeks away from their job until the bruising heals.

Most laser Treatments for rosacea fall into two categories:

Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) requires up to three treatments, spaced six to eight weeks apart.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a newer technology which bruise less, and which require four to six treatments spaced three weeks apart.

Some new technologies such as a high-energy, long pulse-duration pulsed-dye laser are now emerging which are demonstrating better results, less side effects and less bruising.

Other Considerations for Rosacea Laser Treatment

Most laser treatments for rosacea cost anywhere from $300 to $600 per session. These treatments are generally not covered by medical insurance. As I mentioned before, laser treatments are NOT a rosacea cure, and you will likely need lifelong follow up treatments.

Another important thing to consider is your choice of doctor. You REALLY want to be sure that you choose a very skilled, very experienced doctor who has SPECIFIC knowledge of how to use laser treatment with rosacea. The reason for this is that the doctor needs to create an even skin tone for the entire face. If he or she over treats an area, you will have a white patch on your face!

Rosacea laser treatment may be an effective rosacea treatment for sensitive skin if you have exhausted all other treatment options and still have not found relief from your moderate or severe rosacea symptoms. Educate yourself and be sure to choose an excellent doctor who has all the necessary skills, and who can help you make informed choices about your rosacea treatments. Done correctly, rosacea laser treatments have helped many people to ease their symptoms and to live more happily without the pain and embarrassment that rosacea can cause.

Wrinkles and age spots make you feel old and you’ve decided you want to do something about them. The problem is you are a little wary of hospital and clinics. Besides, the harsh lights reflecting off the white walls make these imperfections stand out.

What if you could visit a spa and rejuvenate your skin without the clinical atmosphere? You can. Medical spa services give you that youthful appearance in a relaxing setting. Here are some of the most common procedures you can expect from a med spa:

* Microdermabrasion

This is a milder and non-invasive version of dermabrasion which should be done in a medical facility. Microdermabrasion, however, is a very common procedure among medical spa services. Using a wand that blasts the skin with tiny bits of crystal and then vacuums them back up along with the skin cells. It slowly removes layers of skin and typically requires more than one session. This procedure is great for correcting dark spots and removing lines and mild wrinkles.

* Photofacials

This procedure uses pulse light therapy and heat to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It also works on other conditions like acne scarring and hyper-pigmentation. The heat and light work to promote natural collagen formation in the skin. Collagen is what gives the skin its elasticity and volume.

* Laser Skin Treatments

There are several types of laser treatments commonly used in med spas. Fraxel, CO2 and Erbium laser treatments are some of the latest technologies. These lasers penetrate the layers of skin and either kill or wound the affected area. The dead skin comes off, revealing fresh new skin layers. The type of treatment and laser used determines how deep and traumatic the results. Results are noticeable after one treatment, but if your wrinkles and dark spots are moderate to severe, it will take more than one session.

* Chemical Peels

This treatment’s active ingredient is glycolic acid. It is applied to the face and allowed to sit and penetrate the skin. When it is removed, a layer skin is sloughed off.

* Injectable Fillers

These products should be administered by a dermatologist or the plastic surgeon on staff. Botox, Restylane and other fillers are commonly used at med spas and are a popular lunchtime fix for lines and wrinkles.

While these medical spa services are medical grade procedures, the staff makes every effort to disguise this fact by using soft lighting, warm colors, soothing music and scents. They also try to incorporate a little pampering because these procedures can be quite uncomfortable and maybe painful. A hand, arm and neck massage helps distract from the discomfort sometimes felt during the facials, peels and other procedures.

If you decide to partake of medical spa services, check out the facility and make sure there is a physician overseeing the facility and performing the more invasive procedures. Also make sure the dermatologists, nurses and aestheticians are licensed and trained on the equipment. Certificates and diplomas should be displayed, but if not, don’t be afraid to ask. Do this and you can sit back, relax and enjoy your journey to a younger looking you.

When seeking self-improvement in any area, whether it be for the body, mind, spirit or skin, having a variety of options available can be a great advantage to you. But navigating through all those options to find the ones most suited for you can be confusing. Thanks to today’[s sophisticated laser technology, there are numerous effective laser treatments available to patients seeking to improve the look of their skin. And more innovative new options are becoming available all the time.

Lasers can create remarkable improvements to the way the skin looks and acts, treating such signs of aging as wrinkles, lines and the effects of gravity, as well as damage caused by sun exposure such as brown spots, pigmentation changes and problems with skin texture. For an introduction to the various laser treatments available, and to decide if one is right for you, the first step is to consult a board certified plastic surgeon.

For a thorough assessment of you skin, one should only trust a highly skilled physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner or registered nurse. During your assessment, you should discuss your skin revitalization goals as well, to help determine which treatment option to use.

Using a special energy form, lasers treat a variety of skin conditions, including acne scars, age spots, wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation and other signs of aging and sun exposure. Deciding on which treatment option to use is one you will make with your physician, but understanding the many options available is an important step in helping you make that decision.

There are currently two categories of laser treatments available, ablative or non-ablative. Each has its advantages in treating various skin issues. Your doctor can help you decide which option is best for you.

Ablative treatments work by removing the epidermis and a portion of the dermis, allowing fresh, new skin to emerge through the healing process, offering a younger, revitalized look. Ablative procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, either under general anesthesia, sedation or topical anesthetic.

Recovery time varies, depending upon the extent of treatment and type of lasers used, ranging from a few days to a few weeks. After care for this treatment includes, avoiding sun exposure and following a skin care regime as prescribed by you physician. Pearl, laser peels, and fractionated erbium resurfacing are commonly used ablative procedures.

With non-ablative procedures, the skin remains intact. They often work by stimulating collagen production in the skin, improving tone, and texture. Non-ablative treatments can be used on the face, neck, hands and chest. Generally performed in a medical spa using a topical numbing cream if needed, these procedures can be combined with other treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox.

They require little to no downtime with several treatments typically needed to achieve desired results. These treatments include dermaplaning, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, intense pulsed light (IPL), Titan, and Laser Genesis.

There are several factors to weigh when considering laser skin treatments, such as downtime, anesthesia, the risks associated with the treatment, the number of treatments needed, and the results offered. Your physician can help you weigh these factors and choose the one that best suits your needs.