Red-y for Relief?
Really! Photorejuvenation, Peels and Skincare Relieve!
Rosacea is a common skin disorder that occurs on the face. There is a lot of variation in the degree of presentation. It may present as a flush or blush, but it can progress to persistent redness in the central portion of the face. When left untreated, it can cause more severe redness, pustule and papules that resemble acne, and swelling. Folks who suffer from rosacea often describe their skin as “very sensitive” or complain “I get red from anything I put on my face”. Many people have this vascular disorder for a period of time before they realize it. If you experience the following symptoms you may want to come to Rejuvené MD for a dermatology check-up.
Signs of Rosacea:
- Flushing
- Intense redness on nose, cheeks or forehead
- Persistent redness, like a sunburn that doesn’t go away
- Small red solid bumps or pimples that sting or burn
- Visible blood vessels
- Irritated, bloodshot eyes
- Red swollen eyelids
- Swelling or enlargement of the nose, known as rhinophyma
With time the small blood vessels that are inflamed can cause the nasal area to become bumpy and bulbous, though this usually occurs if rosacea has not been cared for over longer period of time.
Rosacea affects men and women, and can occur at any point, but usually starts to present in 3rd decade of life. Frequently, there is a family history that others also suffer from rosacea.
If you have irritation like this, you can relieve some symptoms by avoidance of certain triggers. There is no cure for rosacea, but there are options to diminish the uncomfortable symptoms and sensations. Most important is practicing good sun protection since ultraviolet light is definitely a trigger. Try to avoid extreme temperatures, hot and cold. Alcohol, hot drinks, and spicy foods are often culprits that cause flare-ups, so do your best to diminish intake.
There is more good news to help those with this vascular inflammatory condition. Skincare has advanced scientifically and aesthetically. There are ingredients that can target vasoconstriction, thus lessening the cycle of redness leading to more inflammation and inflammation in turn causing more bright red skin. It is important to use gentle, non-soap cleansers that will not strip our barrier. Over the counter products, such as Cerave, Cetaphil or Basis are better than soaps that strip vital lipids from the surface of the skin. At Rejuvené MD we carry medical grade skincare with botanicals and compounds that help defend and maintain the proper transgradient barrier our skin provides as protection to our body. Anti-oxidants and vitamins, such as ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), niacinamide, green tea, and more are elegantly combined in these cosmeceuticals to provide anti-inflammatory relief and sooth the skin. At Rejuvené MD we carry lines like Epionce, Senté and Alastin which all have solid clinical data from studies treating rosacea patients and showing improvement.
Skincare is something that Dr. Karen would want you to use for maintenance at home. At Rejuvené MD, she would recommend a combination of treatments tailored to each individual’s issues to stop the progression of rosacea.
A great treatment for treating rosacea is with intense pulse light (IPL). This device uses a spectrum of light that improves overall skin appearance by treating pigmentation and vascular imperfections. With her Lumenis M22 IPL, she is able to customize the treatment according to your skin type and desired results, with maximum safety. The treatments take about 15-30 minutes whereby light penetrates the tissue, creating heat and targeting blood vessels below the surface. Her IPL has an integrated cooling system to ensure maximum comfort. The treated tissue removes the unwanted redness, and at the same time stimulates collagen and elastic fibers. Typically 2-6 sessions with 2-4 weeks in between are needed to achieve optimal results. The common name for these treatments are Photorejuvenation and it’s the perfect plan for broken capillaries, age/sun spots and overall skin appearance.
What else is available? You can reveal clear, smooth, calm skin with peels. Powerful extracts and ingredients can be done at the office for quick “lunch-time” treatments and no downtime. Peels improve skin aging, skin inflammation and gently retexturize flared angry skin. Our medically certified aestheticians at Rejuvené MD analyze the signs and symptoms patients present and prepare the peels to the level of irritation, and then aid in setting up post-procedure home care. We really want each patient to have enhanced clarity and radiance.
We have even more to provide…no blushing about it! Our 3-in-1 super-facial with the Geneo provides all the following: immediate and lasting results, its personalized and versatile, safe and oh so pleasant! It oxygenates the skin surface, exfoliates and refreshes the skin texture, and nourishes with active ingredients that are absorbed for a revitalized appearance. At the end of each treatment, ultrasound guided therapy massages the skin surface while diminishing inflammation.
So, are you RED-Y? We want to bring relief to our patients, Rosacea awareness Month and always!
