Rosacea is a skin condition which typically results in redness, swelling, pimples and dilated blood vessels on the face, particularly on the nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead. While the cause is unknown, family genetics are thought to play a role, and the condition is known to worsen as a result of prolonged exposure to heat, cold, sunlight, spicy food, alcohol, steroidal creams, and stress, as well as due to menopause and exercise. Though exact figures are hard to come by, the condition is thought to affect 1-10% of individuals at any given time, most often Caucasian females between 30-50 years old.

There is currently no cure for rosacea, though a number of treatment options are available. Of these, pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatments have been gaining steady steam as an effective means of reducing the severity and visibility of rosacea symptoms. As the name implies, pulsed dye lasers use an organic dye mixed with a solvent as a lasing medium, which is then circulated at high speeds through light to emit a simulated radiation. PDL treatments are renowned for their ability to treat conditions wherein redness and skin elevation are a problem. They first gained prominence for their ability to treat port-wine birth stains, but are now used to effectively treat a wide variety of conditions, including acne scars, spider veins, and rosacea.

In fact, the effectiveness of PDL treatments in reducing the severity of rosacea has been studied and well-documented scientifically. For example, in 2004, a team of researchers treated forty rosacea patients with a pulsed dye laser, and the changes to their condition were closely monitored. The results were very positive. In fact, every single patient in the study believed that the treatment was worthwhile. Furthermore, there was very little in the way of complications, and those that were present were minor – 3 patients experienced an exacerbation of the rosacea during treatment, thereby requiring antibiotics, and 6 patients developed hyperpigmentary inflammation immediately after the treatment, requiring skin bleach. That said, no patient experienced any complications requiring medical attention during the follow up period, nor were any permanent complications, such as scarring, observed. Most significantly, the patients all experienced improvements with regard to their rosacea, especially in terms of the overall redness, with some improving drastically in this regard. Overall, this led the team to conclude that PDL treatments are indeed a useful treatment for rosacea, and their results coincide with the general success and lack of complications practitioners routinely observe on a regular basis.

While the severity of rosacea differs, it is nonetheless often a significant source of anxiety for those affected by it, which is why Mediluxe is so proud to now offer PDL treatments to combat its severity. Contact us to book your consultation and learn more.