ROSACEA TREATMENT CENTER
TREATMENT OPTIONS
At the Rosacea Treatment Center, Dr. Amerian, Dr. Anterasian, and their talented staff utilize the most modern research, the most effective medications, and the best lasers and lights available to treat and improve rosacea.
Rosacea symptoms may vary widely from patient to patient. For example, some patients may have only redness and flushing, while others may have bumps, pimples, thickened skin, or eye involvement. For this reason, our treatment plans are always customized based upon each individual patient’s unique needs.
THE GOALS OF ROSACEA TREATMENT ARE THE FOLLOWING:
- Bring inflammation and irritation from rosacea under control
- Treat the flushing, redness, and broken capillaries to improve the skin appearance
- Leave our patients with healthy and glowing skin
Depending on each patient’s unique needs, these three goals are accomplished by using a combination of medications, lights, and lasers.
These treatments work best when used in combination. The good news is that by combining several skin care modalities, an experienced skin care professional will be able to control nearly every case of rosacea.
TREATMENT TYPES
SUNSCREEN AND SUN PROTECTION
All patients who have rosacea should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UV-A and UV-B light. In general, we prefer the physical blockers in which the sunscreen is based on titanium dioxide or zinc oxide rather than chemical sunscreens. The sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 15, and it should be reapplied every few hours.
In addition, individuals who have rosacea should seek shade and wear a wide-brim hat to further protect themselves from the sun.
VBEAM PERFECTA PULSED DYE LASER
Blood vessel lasers are one of the mainstays of rosacea treatment. At the Santa Monica Laser and Skincare Center, we use the Vbeam Perfecta pulsed dye laser. When this type of laser is fired, the light from the laser is selectively absorbed by red blood in the face. Following the laser pulse, the laser energy is transmitted to the blood vessel wall, which leads to a narrowing of the blood vessel wall and a shrinking of the size of the blood vessel. This in turn leads to a reduction in facial redness.
Generally, our patients receive from three to five treatments with the Vbeam Perfecta laser, which are given at monthly intervals. To learn more about the Vbeam Perfecta laser, click here.
RED LIGHT TREATMENT
Red colored light has an anti-inflammatory and calming effect on the skin. In rosacea treatment, the use of red light can reduce skin inflammation, leading to a reduction in redness and an improvement in the cosmetic appearance of the face.
MEDICATIONS
Topical metronidazole is a commonly used medication for rosacea. Although metronidazole is widely known as an antibiotic, it is more likely that it is the anti-inflammatory property of metronidazole that improves the rosacea.
Doxycycline is another antibiotic that can be used to treat rosacea. Like metronidazole, when doxycycline is used to treat rosacea, it is used for its anti-inflammatory properties rather than for its antibiotic properties. Doxycycline is a medication that is taken by mouth.
Azelaic acid is effective against mild to moderate rosacea. It is applied as a gel or cream to the skin, and also works by reducing inflammation.
Sodium sulfacetamide and other sulfur products are also useful to treat rosacea when the rosacea is somewhat acne-like in its appearance. These medications reduce skin inflammation.
Cortisone containing creams can be used to reduce the redness of rosacea. When they are used, their use should be limited to no more than two weeks.