Rosacea, much like most teenagers, is misunderstood.
The condition is characterized by facial redness, bumps, and eye irritation. It affects people of all ages, many of whom never know they have a “condition.”
But the causes of rosacea are not well known. Fortunately, at Profile MD, new treatments with broadband light sources and lasers are getting the red out!
Causes
The causes of rosacea are not fully understood. Sun exposure, certain foods, drinks, and medications can dilate the blood vessels and lead to an outbreak. There is even a genetic factor.
Rosacea tends to occur in the facial areas that blush, so people more prone to blushing are more prone to rosacea. Triggers that cause rosacea flares are emotional factors such as stress and anxiety, weather changes, sun exposure, alcohol consumption, exercise, and eating spicy foods.
Symptoms
Rosacea is frustrating for the patient, as it comes and goes without warning. The person’s skin may be clear for weeks or months, and then a sudden eruption occurs. A flare-up is characterized by facial redness, blushing, burning, red bumps, and little cysts. Sometimes, the normal facial skin color will not return after an outbreak, staying more reddened for the duration. Usually, the condition doesn’t go away on its own.
Treating Rosacea
Medications that get a handle on it have been known for their systemic side effects, so people have been looking for alternative treatments. Laser and light therapies are providing those.
At Profile MD, we treat rosacea with one to three sessions of broadband light source (BBL). This therapy deals with the dilated blood vessels that cause the persistent redness and flushing typical of rosacea. BBL also treats the acne-like breakouts that occur.
Depending on the patient, one to three treatments usually are necessary. We space the treatments from four to six weeks apart. While there isn’t really any recovery time, tanning can worsen rosacea symptoms and minimize the impact of BBL treatment.
Let’s do something about it. Call us at 410-544-4600
