Rosacea is a chronic skin condition usually involving inflammation of the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, and even eyelids. It can also persist on the neck and chest/decollete as well. It generally appears as redness, prominent spider-like veins or broken capillaries, swelling, or even eruptions similar to acne. It is exacerbated by sun, hot foods, exercise, stress, changes in temperatue, and alcohol. There is no “cure” for rosacea but there are skin treatments and some products that can help.
Most people with rosacea do not respond to topical prescription treatments (like Metrogel) and over-the-counter acne products never work. In fact, some will aggrevate the skin even more, as many rosacea patients have extremely sensitive skin. Although Dr. Rueckl does give oral antibiotics in some cases (particularly if a rosacea patient also experiences acne-like eruptions), the most important skin products to use are a gentle cleanser (like Dove or Aquanil) and a good daily sunscreen (with lots of reapplication if you are outdoors). Exfoliators and washcloths should never be used; however, the Clarisonic with a delicate head attachment is a tremendous resource because it’s gentle.
The best way to manage rosacea is to get Syneron IPL/FotoFacial and Cutera Laser Genesis skin treatments to address the visible vessels and diffuse the redness of the skin. A series of five treatments will usually result in 50%-75% clearance of the vessels, flushing, and ruddiness of the skin. After that, periodic treatments every 3-6 months (depending upon intensity of rosacea) will help maintain the results and decrease any new rosacea developments. Because Syneron lasers have multiple treatment heads, our technicians have the ability to treat deeper redness and pigment, as well as surface redness and flushing. Many other lasers only have one treatment applicator, so those treatments are much more limited in results. Additionally, rosacea patients who have larger veins, usually around or across the nose or facial creases, can receive sclerotherapy injections from Dr. Rueckl, which will dissipate these veins and broken capillaries.
We have treated thousands of rosacea patients over the years and nothing compares with the outcome from laser skin treatments. If you suffer from rosacea, call to schedule an appointment with Dr. Rueckl or the technicians at The Spa at Lakes Dermatology for a free consultation to discuss your treatment options.
