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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.