Rosacea is an inflammatory condition that causes chronic facial redness and visible blood vessels. Though rosacea is primarily a cosmetic concern, it tends to worsen and spread over time. Without treatment, rosacea flare-ups can diminish your self-esteem and damage your skin.

At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania in the greater Philadelphia area on the Main Line in Devon, Jordan V. Wang, MD, MBE, MBA, and his team of board-certified dermatologists perform a wide selection of laser treatments to repair damage from rosacea, minimize the appearance of broken blood vessels, and significantly improve facial redness.

While facial redness is a telltale sign of rosacea, it isn’t the only symptom. Symptoms vary from person to person and often depend on your subtype. There are 4 rosacea subtypes:

Subtype 1 (Facial Redness)

Also called erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, Subtype 1 symptoms include:

• Persistent redness
• Flushing
• Visible blood vessels

Subtype 2 (Small Pimples and Bumps)

Papulopustular rosacea, or Subtype 2, often develops in individuals who also have Subtype 1. Symptoms of Subtype 2 rosacea include:

• Facial redness and flushing
• Tiny pimples and bumps

Subtype 3 (Thickened Skin)

Subtype 3 rosacea, also called phymatous rosacea, is a more advanced form of the inflammatory condition that causes skin thickening. Symptoms include:

• Overall skin thickening
• Enlarged and thickened nose (rhinophyma)
• Facial redness

Subtype 4 (Irritated Eyes)

Ocular rosacea affects the eyes and can lead to vision problems without the right treatment. Signs and symptoms of ocular rosacea include:

• Red, irritated eyes
• Watery eyes
• Gritty sensation of the eyes
• Burning or stinging eyes

What makes rosacea particularly difficult to diagnose and treat is its similarities to other skin conditions, such as eczema, acne, allergic reactions, and sunburns. That’s why it’s essential to visit a board-certified dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis.

Rosacea affects more than 16 million people in the U.S. alone, particularly women over the age of 30. Around 33% of individuals with rosacea are of Irish descent, but the condition is very common in all fair-skinned ethnicities, including those with Scandinavian, English, Scottish, or Eastern European heritage.

Rosacea most commonly affects the face, but it can also develop on the neck, head, chest, and other areas of the body. The most prevalent signs of rosacea include:

• Visible blood vessels
• Redness and flushing
• Small pimples and bumps
• Stinging
• Irritated eyes

Since rosacea is a chronic and inflammatory condition, regular treatments are essential to keep symptoms at bay. We offer laser devices, topical treatments, and oral medications to calm redness and reduce irritation from rosacea. The most popular rosacea treatments we offer at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania are:

Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL)

Pulsed dye lasers specifically address the blood vessels beneath the surface of your skin. These devices operate at a single high-intensity wavelength that can treat the targeted area without damaging the surrounding tissue. Pulsed dye laser treatments can significantly improve the redness of your skin and minimize the appearance of visible blood vessels with very little downtime.

Vbeam Prima®

The Vbeam Prima can effectively treat larger areas of the skin than many other types of pulsed dye lasers. The laser eliminates unwanted redness from rosacea by sending intense yet gentle bursts of energy into the treatment area. The targeted blood vessels absorb the light, which damages them enough to eliminate or reduce them. Over time, these blood vessels collapse and start to diminish in appearance. With a built-in cooling system, the Vbeam Prima can treat rosacea with minimal downtime.

Publications

Wang JV, Albornoz CA, Geronemus RG, “Cost Savings of In-Office Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Port-Wine Birthmarks Without General Anesthesia.” Dermatologic Surgery. 2021 Apr 30.