Rosacea and Cosmetic Treatments

Do you have red cheeks or a rosy complexion? Does the redness get worse when you sit in the sun, drink coffee or alcohol, or eat spicy foods? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may have a condition called rosacea.

Rosacea is a skin condition of hyperactive facial vessels which can lead to the formation of pustules or tiny bumps.  The exact cause of rosacea is hard to pinpoint, but there is one thing for certain- it has many avoidable triggers.  Treatment for rosacea centers on trigger avoidance, topical gels/lotions, and anti-inflammatory doses of antibiotics.  Even with use of all the treatment modalities available, people can be left with unsightly enlarged facial vessels and a lingering red tone in their skin.

At the USF Health Cosmetic & Laser Center we offer multiple options that work as adjuncts to prescriptive rosacea treatments.  To combat redness we offer a light treatment known as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL).  IPL is a treatment that delivers a broad spectrum of light to the skin surface and targets red and brown pigment in the skin.  Post treatment, the patient may notice some darkening of brown spots or deepening of redness, but this is only temporary and the patient is left with a more even complexion. In addition to IPL, we recommend Laser Blood Vessel (LBV) treatment to target enlarged vessels of the face.   LBV is typically performed on either our 595 or 1064 nm lasers depending on patient skin type.  Blood vessels are targeted using either wavelength in an attempt to coagulate the vessels.  Right after treatment the patient may notice temporary darkening and even immediate disappearance of some vessels.  For IPL and LBV, multiple treatments may be recommended to see maximum results.  It is imperative that patients refrain from excessive sun exposure and must be diligent about sunscreen use in the post treatment period.

Aside from laser and lights, we carry multiple products that help to combat rosacea type skin.  Some SkinMedica® products we recommend include: Redness Relief CalmPlex™, Sensitive Skin Cleanser, and TNS Recovery Complex®.  We also recommend the use of SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 Sunscreen.

Listed below are some of the triggers that could aggravate rosacea and should be avoided if possible:

• Sun exposure
• Hot/cold weather
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Spicy Foods
• Steam
• Stress

If you’re interested in finding out more about cosmetic, laser, or cosmeceutical treatments for your rosacea, give our office a call or come in and see us!

By: Erika Dare, ARNP-C, Dermatology and Cosmetic Practitioner at USF Health Cosmetic and Laser Center on Davis Islands.

Erika Dare, ARNP-C

For an appointment to address redness, rosacea or any other cosmetic concerns that you might have, please call 813-259-8694.