Rosacea/Acne Rosacea
Rosacea is a skin condition of the face that gives the cheeks and nose a flushed appearance. As the condition progresses, small blood vessels and tiny pimples begin to appear on, and around, the reddened area. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can halt the progress of the condition.
Treatment
Acne Rosacea can be treated using a range of new technologies and some patients choose to combine this with medication. We have a Rosacea Specialist, Dr Peter Crouch, who has published his treatment approaches for Acne Rosacea.
Usually, we can significantly lessen the appearance of redness with 2-3 treatments over a 4-6 month period. Many patients are so delighted with the improvement that they opt to return once a year for a top up treatment to prevent any deterioration.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
We were the first clinic in the UK to receive and start using the Lumenis One. We have been using this treatment platform since Spring 2004 and are delighted with the results. We use the Lumenis One for treating acne rosacea using a triple pulse triple filter & multiple pass technique developed for use with this machine by Dr. Peter Crouch.
The process involves three separate exposures of the patient's skin to Intense
Pulsed Light - each time the treatment head is rotated 90 degrees (i.e. at right angles to the
previous pass). The intention is to even out the delivery of Intense Pulsed Light Energy by
off-setting each pass relative to the one before. The change of filters between each pass is
intended to deliver energy at varying levels in the skin (and so to target vessels of varying
diameter and at varying depth). By using multiple passes, using moderate energy levels, we hope
to successfully treat as many vessels as possible whilst minimising the risk of thermal damage
to the skin.
Multiple passes using different filters we believe from long experience treating this condition provides effective treatments with significantly lower risk of swelling, burns or blistering than using a single pass approach.
As a medically supervised clinic, we are keen to adjust patient's expectations appropriately.
Normally a series of treatments is required to treat Rosacea however many patients return anually after the first series of two - three treatments in the first year brings their rosacea under control.
This graph shows a typical treatment regime and the role of maintenance treatments:-
Pulse Dye Laser
The Pulse Dye Laser, or NLite, is used for cases of Acne Rosacea that do not respond well to IPL treatments.
The laser used in this way causes bruising of the blood vessels and this develops as discreet dark purple circular bruises as the treatment continues. This bruising can last for at least 7-10 days after treatment. Although this treatment can produce results where Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) alone has been unsuccessful, the evenness of the result is not generally as good as with IPL and IPL may be required to "feather" out the sharp cut off where the pulse dye laser has "punched" a hole in the redness which can otherwise leave an uneven approach.
Nd:Yag Laser
The Gemini Nd:Yag Laser is another method of laser therapy treatment for Acne Rosacea. It is applied in a similar approach to IPL with three offset passes delivered in a "painting" motion.
Patients tend to notice an increase in flushing symptoms for 2-4 weeks following treatment which then settles down to establish a new baseline
This graph shows symptoms following a typical treatment and that maintenance treatments may not be required. Patients generally choose how many treatments they wish to have based on the degree of symptom relief they wish to acheive. We are not aware that symptoms tend to return after treatment.
You can view videos of all of these treatments in our Online Media Library
Follow up and After Care
Comprehensive verbal and written advice is given at the time of treatment, however, if patients should have any additional queries, a special After-care telephone number is given to patients to call - this line operates 7 days a week / 24 hours a day and will put callers through to the clinic doctors who know you.