Rosacea

Rosacea (roe-ZAY-she-uh) is a common skin condition that causes blushing or flushing and visible blood vessels in your face. It may also produce small red, pus-filled bumps. These signs and symptoms may flare up for weeks to months and then go away for a while. Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, other skin problems or natural ruddiness.

Rosacea can affect anyone. But it’s most common in people with light colored skin. There’s no cure for rosacea, but treatment can control and reduce the signs and symptoms.

Rosacea

Cause

The cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to an overactive immune system, heredity, environmental factors or a combination of these. Rosacea is not caused by poor hygiene and it’s not contagious. Flare-ups might be triggered by: Hot drinks and spicy foods.

Before and after pictures using the IPL Laser therapy for Rosacea.

Before and after pictures using the IPL Laser therapy for Rosacea.

Rosacea

Stellar M22™ Rosacea treatment uses Lumenis’ IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology with OPT™ to gently target the vascular condition.

Diagnosis

No specific test is used to diagnosis rosacea. Instead, Dr. Monique S. Cohn, DO FAOCD relies on the history of your symptoms and an examination of your skin. You may have tests to rule out other conditions, such as psoriasis or lupus. Studies show that in people of color, rosacea can be missed or misdiagnosed as an allergic reaction or seborrheic dermatitis.

If your symptoms involve your eyes, Dr. Monique S. Cohn, DO FAOCD may refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for evaluation.

Symptoms

Rosacea causes more than a red face. There are many signs (what you can see) and symptoms (what a person feels) of rosacea.

Because rosacea has so many signs and symptoms, scientists created 4 subtypes of rosacea. Some people have more than one rosacea subtype at the same time. Each subtype requires different treatment. The signs and symptoms may be:

  • Bumpy texture to the skin.
  • Skin begins to thicken, especially common on the nose. When the skin thickens on the nose, it is called rhinophyma (rye-NO-fie-ma)
  • Skin may thicken on the chin, forehead, cheeks, and ears.
  • Visible broken blood vessels appear.
  • Pores look large.
  • Oily skin.

Treatment

Treatment for rosacea focuses on controlling signs and symptoms. Most often this requires a combination of good skin care and prescription drugs.

The duration of your treatment depends on the type and severity of your signs and symptoms. Recurrence is common.

Medications

New rosacea medications have been developed in recent years. The type of medication Dr. Monique S. Cohn, DO FAOCD prescribes depends on which signs and symptoms you’re experiencing. You may need to try different options or a combination of drugs to find a treatment that works for you.

Prescription drugs for rosacea include:

  • Topical drugs that reduce flushing. For mild to moderate rosacea, Dr. Monique S. Cohn, DO FAOCD may prescribe a cream or gel that you apply to the affected skin. Brimonidine (Mirvaso) and oxymetazoline (Rhofade) reduce flushing by constricting blood vessels. You may see results within 12 hours after use. The effect on the blood vessels is temporary, so the medication needs to be applied regularly to maintain improvements.Other topical products help control the pimples of mild rosacea. These drugs include azelaic acid (Azelex, Finacea), metronidazole (Metrogel, Noritate, others) and ivermectin (Soolantra). With azelaic acid and metronidazole, noticeable improvements generally don’t appear for two to six weeks. Ivermectin may take even longer to improve skin, but it results in a longer remission than does metronidazole.
  • Oral antibiotics. Dr. Monique S. Cohn, DO FAOCD may prescribe an oral antibiotic such as doxycycline (Oracea, others) for moderate to severe rosacea with bumps and pimples.
  • Oral acne drug. If you have severe rosacea that doesn’t respond to other therapies, your doctor may suggest isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, others). It’s a powerful oral acne drug that also helps clear up acnelike lesions of rosacea. Don’t use this drug during pregnancy as it can cause serious birth defects.

IPL Laser therapy

What is it?

The Stellar M22™ IPL for Rosacea treatment

Dr. Monique S. Cohn, DO FAOCD can now treat your Rosacea symptoms and ensure great looking skin, while treating not only the redness and flush, but also removing skin imperfections and stimulate collagen and elastin fiber production. Stellar M22™ Rosacea treatment uses Lumenis’ IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology with OPT™ to gently target the vascular condition.

Is It right for me?

Stellar M22™ treatments are not suitable for everyone and may carry some risks. IPL treatment for Rosacea is not suitable when you have active infections, viral, fungal or bacterial diseases, inflammatory skin conditions or skin cancer. Risks may include: redness, swelling, change of pigmentation and scarring. Be sure to consult with your treatment provider before choosing this treatment.

The IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology allows treatment of Rosacea symptoms like flushing, redness and visible blood vessels, as well as improving the overall appearance of your skin. Stellar M22™ IPL with Optimal Pulse Technology (OPT™) enables your Dr. Monique S. Cohn, DO FAOCD to customize the treatment according to your skin type, condition severity, and desired results, with maximum safety. Light pulses penetrate the tissue and create heat inside the blood vessels, which closes the vessels’ walls, eventually causes them to disappear.

What should I expect?

When will I see results?

The Stellar M22™ IPL Rosacea treatment tones down redness, flushing, and visible small blood vessels, over a series of treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart.

What can I expect after treatment?

Immediately following treatment, you may experience some additional redness, depending on your customized treatment settings. The redness will usually fade away within a day or two. In most cases, makeup may be immediately applied, and daily activities can be resumed the very same day. You will be asked by Dr. Monique S. Cohn, DO FAOCD to stay out from the sun for a few days following the treatment and to apply sun screen till the next planned session.

How does it work?

Just before treatment, Dr. Monique S. Cohn, DO FAOCD will apply a thin layer of clear gel onto the treatment area. Depending on your specific concern, you can expect the session to last 15-30 minutes. You may experience a warm sensation as the light is applied to the skin, but the treatment is gentle and should not feel uncomfortable.