Understanding Laser treatment for rosacea

It sounds like something from a science fiction film, but in the last few decades, CO2 laser treatment of rosacea has been proven an effective method of keeping rosacea outbreaks fewer and further between.There is not just one laser treatment for rosacea, however. There as many different types of laser treatment of rosacea as there are subtypes of rosacea, in fact.

Each type of rosacea requires specific, targeted treatment, whether that treatment for rosacea is coming from lasers, topical ointment, or antibiotics.

If you are interested in laser treatment for rosacea, you should certainly talk to your doctor first, and give other treatments a try. Laser treatment for rosacea can be very effective, but there are other, gentler, and more inexpensive options, as well.

What can Rosacea Laser Treatment do?

Rosacea laser treatment is only effective against certain symptoms. Laser treatment for rosacea may have little to no effect on bumps and pustules, and may have no real effect on other skin conditions like acne. Rosacea laser treatment may help with the following symptoms:

   •    Dilated blood vessels
   •    Persistent or recurring redness
   •    Thickening of the skin on the nose, cheeks, ears, chin, or forehead
   •    Flushing
   •    Acne like breakouts

Various Methods of Laser treatment of rosacea

There are a few different methods of laser treatment of rosacea used to treat the symptoms of rosacea, generally targeted towards specific symptoms. For example, low light therapy has been used to treat dilated blood vessels and recurring redness, while CO2 lasers are used to emit wavelengths which are then absorbed into the skin. With thickening skin on the chin, nose and other parts of the face, CO2 lasers are sometimes focused into beams which can be use as ultra precise scalpels, and these are used to remove excess skin tissue.

Acne, Rosacea Laser Treatment: Not Right for Everyone

It should be noted that not everybody is eligible for laser treatment for rosacea or other skin conditions. Laser treatment can have a detrimental affect for some patients with certain conditions, including those who suffer from:

• Insulin-dependent diabetes
• Blood clotting disorders, or
• A tendency to develop keloids

People with a suntan are also recommended against laser light treatments. The above listed conditions should be shared with your dermatologist, as they may increase the risk of infection or other complications during the post-laser treatment healing process. It should also be noted that you should go into laser treatment with realistic expectations. The success or failure of laser skin treatment depends on several factors.These factors may include your skin type, skin conditions besides rosacea, your lifestyle, amount of sun exposure, etcetera. It should also be noted that your skin will be sensitive to the sun for a time after successful laser treatment. You should make sure to protect your skin from the sun after a successful laser treatment, or else risk your rosacea outbreaks recurring, and even becoming worse.

Insurance

It is unfortunate that treatments for conditions such as rosacea are not usually covered by insurance. As uncomfortable as rosacea can be, many insurance policies do not deem rosacea treatment to be medically necessary, especially with laser treatment for rosacea. The price of an average laser treatment, as of the time of this writing, can be anywhere from three hundred to six hundred dollars per session. These treatments tend to be spaced between four and eight weeks apart, and may require anywhere from three to five sessions. Laser treatment for rosacea is certainly an option, but it’s not the only option. Take a good look at everything available to you, and then decide.