Rosacea Laser Treatment
The National Institutes of Health report that almost 14 million Americans suffer from rosacea, a skin disorder that causes the capillaries within your face to inflame – the physical appearance of rosacea can resemble acne and dryness, and cause discomfort to sufferers. The triggers of this disorder include both environmental and internal factors, ranging from exposure to the sun to eating certain foods.
However, there are many avenues in which people can pursue treatment for rosacea. This can include natural treatment for rosacea, rosacea laser treatment, or a combination approach to therapies. Both natural remedies and rosacea laser treatment have their advantages and disadvantages to consider.
Natural treatment for rosacea may be preferable to rosacea laser treatment in that it can cost significantly less money and for some, have results just as effective.
Some natural treatments for rosacea include topical solutions of green tea, lavender, chamomile, oatmeal, among others – all are anti-inflammatory herbs that can minimize the appearance and swelling associated with rosacea.
Many professionals have suggested that mild exercise such as yoga can have substantial impact on minimizing the effects of rosacea, representing a free alternative to rosacea laser treatment. However, overly strenuous exercise can actually worsen the symptoms.
Monitoring sun exposure is also very important, because rosacea can be significantly worsened by sunburns; even further, rosacea appears to be correlative to skin complexions that burn easily.
Another natural treatment of rosacea is to ensure a proper diet – several food allergies, as well as very spicy foods, cause increased blood flow, a causal factor of rosacea. In addition, maintaining stress can prove to be very important in mitigating the effects of rosacea. Although rosacea laser treatment may seem more lucrative, there are many inexpensive alternatives through natural rosacea treatment that can be equally as worthwhile.
Rosacea laser treatment has been around since the 1980’s, and can have some shockingly dramatic effects on rosacea. Many different forms of laser treatment exist, which have also evolved to encompass a non-laser therapy known as intense pulsed light (IPL) in order to treat the skin disorder.
One of the most typical forms of laser treatment is pulsed dye laser (PDL), but many other forms exist though not as extensively recommended. Though there is no cure for rosacea, some advocates suggest that certain forms of rosacea laser treatment are preferable to natural rosacea treatment.
Some dermatologists argue that after two treatments with IPL, redness associated with rosacea can be lessened by up to 60% – in the face of such powerful statistics, even the price of rosacea laser treatment seems cost-effective when compared to natural rosacea treatments.
Even so, not all patients requesting rosacea laser treatment are plausible candidates, such as individuals with Insulin-dependent diabetes, suntans, and clotting disorders. Considering that, perhaps natural treatment for rosacea is the solution for those who are not candidates for rosacea laser treatment.
In all, there is hope for the millions of Americans who suffer from rosacea. Countless natural rosacea treatments exist to mitigate symptoms of the disorder, which may in fact be the only solution for many rosacea patients when considering the exclusive nature of rosacea laser treatment candidacy.
However, in understanding the treatments of rosacea, it is equally important to understand that there is no cure, and that there is a possibility that some people may never fully defeat their rosacea. Despite this, it is apparent that the disorder can be mitigated through natural remedies or laser treatment.
Laser Treatment for Rosacea
Medication is typically the first line of treatment for rosacea. However, there are other options available and one of them is the use of lasers. Laser treatment for rosacea is not new. Dermatologists have been treating patients with rosacea using lasers since the 1980s. As you can imagine, though, technology has changed a lot since then, and there are a couple of different ways lasers are used to alleviate the symptoms of rosacea.
Pulsed Dyed Laser Treatment
This is the oldest type of laser treatment used to correct the redness associated with rosacea. An intense burst of light is applied to the affected areas. The heat from the light destroys the blood vessels but does not affect the surrounding skin. This results in less skin redness and sensitivity.
Pulsed dyed lasers can treat large areas of skins fairly quickly and results can be seen within one to two sessions. However, the side effects of the procedure include bruising, swelling, peeling, or redness which usually clears up in a few days. You will also need to avoid the sun as much as possible and wear sunscreen when you do go out.
IPL Laser Treatment
This is a newer type of laser treatment called intense pulsed light that uses non-light sources to achieve the same effect as pulsed dyed lasers. Basically the laser heats the blood vessels to 70 degrees Celsius which destroys them. The blood vessels are then reabsorbed into the body leaving behind scar tissues.
The result is reduced facial redness. Side effects of this treatment include pain, redness, blistering, swelling, bruising, hair loss at the treatment site, and slight burns. In rare cases skin lightening may occur. Many of these side effects fade after awhile.
Treatment for Rhinophyma
One of the symptoms of rosacea is the nose becomes bulbous and red. This is caused by the enlargement of the oil-producing glands underneath. Typically the condition is treated with medication, but lasers are also used to remove the excess tissue. While the nose will be smaller, it will take about a year for the redness to go away.
Rosacea Laser Treatment Cost
The cost of laser treatment for rosacea varies depending on the doctor and where you live. In general, you can expect to pay between $300 and $600 per session and it can take up to five sessions over a period of 15 weeks depending on the severity of the skin disorder. Although it is a medical treatment, many insurance companies will not cover these laser treatments, so you may have to pay for them.