Laser Rosacea

What is Rosacea Rosacea is an inflammatory condition of the face that affects up to approximately ten percent of people worldwide. The condition is common among fair-skinned individuals of northern or western European descent and presents itself in minor cases with erythematic flushing and blushing. As the condition progresses, telangiectasias, papules and pustules may appear in the central third of the face. Secondary features include burning, edema, and phymatous changes of the skin which may also occur in peripheral locations. The features of rosacea are often categorized in four stages: pre-rosacea with symptoms of frequent flushing, stage 1 and stage 2 with increasing and more persistent erythema and skin sensitivity followed by stage 3, which manifests in large inflammatory nodules, tissue hyperplasia and rhinophyma.

Rosacea is often exacerbated by factors like extreme temperature, emotional stress, physical exercise, certain foods and alcohol; thus impacting the quality of life for affected individuals.2 In surveys conducted by the National Rosacea Society, seventy-six percent of rosacea patients reported that the condition lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem and seventy-five perfect of individuals said the disorder had adversely affected their professional interactions.

The Treatment of Rosacea Rosacea is a chronic condition that is managed primarily with the aid of oral and topical therapies, and with laser and light-based treatments. The latter have been deemed safe and effective to treat the vascular component of the condition. Shorter wavelengths, like the excel V’s 532 nm KTP laser, effectively target and treat hemoglobin chromophores to improve the appearance of redness in the skin. With a combination of light based, topical and/or oral treatments, symptoms may subside for periods of time, and along with management of patient triggers, long-term improvement in the disease can often be maintained.

Prior to the release of the excel V, clinicians often used a single wavelength KTP laser, intense pulsed light devices (400 - 1200 nm), or the traditional pulsed dye laser (585, 595 nm) for light based treatments. We find the dual wavelength excel V™ (532 nm KTP and 1064 nm Nd:YAG) is the most effective treatments among above lasers. Followings are some example cases and their before and after Photos.