Rosacea? Anyone try having laser treatments

[Jellyb]

Hi everyone. I have a small amount of rosacea on my nose, forehead and cheeks. It has been getting a little worse over this year, so I saw a highly respected dermatologist on monday and she has reccomended the IPL (intense pulse laser) to treat the blood vessels and make them go away.

Has anyone had this done? And does it work?  She told me rosacea is progressive and I dont react well to the metrogel, so this might be an option, but it is kind of expensive.

Thanks

[eye2dry]

Hi JellyB.

I have had rosacea since 1995. Have used MetroGel ever since. I too have some broken capillaries on my nose. I work for a dermatologist and he has treated me with pinpoint cautery. He zaps the capillary with heat from the cautery and it seals the blood vessel shut. Sometimes he has had to treat the same vessel twice.

As you know, you can have the blood vessels lasered/cauterized but you'll continue to get more as time goes by. There are so many things to discontinue to try to improve the rosacea but I cannot give up too many.
Some examples are:

sun exposure
overheating..as in exercising even
spicy foods
hot temp food (soups for example)
coffee, tea, hot chocolate
stress

genetics is the reason..mostly of European descent
my grandparents came over from Ireland.....they both had rosacea . our blood vessels eventually stay dilated over time.

I use Afrin nasal spray to the
central part of my face twice a day. it cuts down on the redness by it's topical effect of constricting the surface blood vessels. (which this is an off label use of Afrin)

if you have this done..let me know how it went. is the results apparent right away? more than one treatment?

good luck.
eye2dry

[slccom]

I had my blood vessels zapped in the 1990s, and it worked really well. It felt like a stinging, and right under nose is actually hurt. Metrogel wasn't needed by me, but I live in sunscreen. The metrogel is an antibiotic and used for the zits. The sunscreen for me is mostly enough, and hats. I have a nice collection of hats. It blows a hot of hard winds here in Colorado, so I use decorated bobbypins for hat pins, since I don't have a six-inch high pile of hair on top of my head to run a 8 inch pin through.  I'm getting to the point where I need another treatment. I'm pretty sure my health "insurer" won't pay for it because it is "cosmetic."

Go for it! Sharon

[Jellyb]

Thanks both of you for responding,
Thanks for all the information too. Eye2drry, i have never heard of using Afrin for rosacea, but it makes perfect sense. And I was told that I would only need 2 treatments because it is not too bad yet, but she reccomended having touch a touch up done every 2 years. Because like you sais, it seems to always come back.

I think I am going to try it. Staying out of the sun is hard for me, because I live to garden and I walk every day, but Siccom, I am going to have to invest in somw cute hats.

I will let you know how it goes and results. I dont see her again for six more weeks and then i consult with her nurse and scedule.

Thanks again for answering my post :-)

[slccom]

I find that the hats need to be tight weave for the (broad) brim, and something patterned to let me put in the bobby pins to keep it on. If you don't have high winds there, it isn't a problem.

Have fun gardening!
Sharon

[Patze]

Hi Jellyb,

I too have Rosacea and have had it for several years as well.  I have tried the Metro gel and was not impressed with it and quit using it.  You see it when I'm in the sun or when I'm very warm (oh boy is it noticeable then).

Do keep us updated as I'd like to see how it turns out too.

Take care of yourself -

Patze

[lynnmarie219]

I also have rosacea and have been on a variety of gels, cremes and meds over the years....they all worked for a while and over time I would break through and have to switch. Right now I have been using Plexion cleanser which is prescription...have been using it for years and it keeps the redness at bay when I use it every morning.

I have also had the pinpoint cautery done...it does seal the vessel right up immediately which reduces the redness...but it eventually requires follow ups so my dermatologist usually does a "touch up" when I visit with him each year or so.

[soycoffee]

Hi everyone. I have a small amount of rosacea on my nose, forehead and cheeks. It has been getting a little worse over this year, so I saw a highly respected dermatologist on monday and she has reccomended the IPL (intense pulse laser) to treat the blood vessels and make them go away.

Has anyone had this done? And does it work?  She told me rosacea is progressive and I dont react well to the metrogel, so this might be an option, but it is kind of expensive.

Thanks

I learned about the IPL treatment for rosacea when I was diagnosed at the Dry Eye Center here at the University of Pennsylvania Health System's Penn Presbyterian Hospital /Scheie Eye Institute, down the road from the Sjögren's Syndrome Center.

There is a study getting underway that will use IPL for people with Ocular Rosacea (Me, me, she raises her hand!) as doctors in Europe, and now in the U.S. as well, have discovered anecdotally that IPL seems to be effective in improving ocular rosacea and the contribution it makes to dry eye.

So if you have dry eye, you might get a double benefit from getting IPL, and perhaps save on Restasis or eye drops. :-)

Best,
Soycoffee

[gurs]

My dad has been battling this over the years..has anyone used Finacea? that is one he hasnt tried?

thanks

Gursie

[Jellyb]

Thanks Soycoffee!
That is great information. I notice when my rosacea flairs up my eyes are way worse too. Now I can hardly wait to have this done! They cant get me in for it till late march though. That will give me hat shopping time :-)

[eye2dry]

hello gurs.

I tried the finacea but couldn't stick with it. it caused stinging and burning to my face, must be something in it I am allergic to.

your dad probably would not have that reaction. sometimes your dermatologist can give you samples of it to try first to avoid spending money on something that may not work.
we give out samples and discount coupons on it from the sales reps
eye2dry