A demur blush across your cheeks when you’re embarrassed or smitten is endearing, but the constant flush of rosacea is aggressive and unwelcome. You can try at-home remedies and even prescription-strength medications to calm the redness and pimply outbreaks, but when they don’t do the job, it may be time to turn to intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.
Dr. Nirav Naik at New Life Medical in Bakersfield, California, offers this effective treatment to our patients who struggle with rosacea and other skin imperfections, such as birthmarks, age spots, sun damage, varicose veins, and broken blood vessels.
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that dilates the blood vessels in your face, causing a perpetual blushed, ruddy complexion. Rosacea doesn’t go away on its own, and there’s no known cure, but there are ways to manage symptoms such as:
Rosacea tends to cycle through phases of remission and flare-ups, so you may notice calmer skin for a period of time and then experience acute symptoms.
The causes of rosacea aren’t clear, though some believe it to be an autoimmune disorder. Others point to environmental factors or a combination of both. We do know that it’s not a matter of poor hygiene, and it’s not contagious.
Certain factors can trigger an acute flare-up, including:
Rosacea affects more women than men and tends to occur in fairer-skinned people over 30. If rosacea runs in your family, or if you’re a smoker, you’re at a higher risk for developing rosacea.
Avoiding the things that trigger your rosacea flare-ups is an important step in managing your symptoms, but as the condition progresses, you may find that you need a little extra help. Dr. Naik may prescribe topical creams that reduce inflammation and constrict your blood vessels, but if they don’t deliver the results you’re after, it may be time to consider IPL.
Also known as a photofacial, IPL is a laser-based light therapy that delivers light energy down through the layers of your skin. The energy seeks out contrasting pigments, which is why IPL therapy works well on sun spots and birthmarks, too.
The heat from the light breaks up the pigmented tissues — in this case, the broken blood vessels that are causing the redness — and destroys them so your body can process and flush them away.
And here’s an added bonus: IPL stimulates the production of collagen in the deeper layers of your skin, which restores your skin’s structure and resilience.
If you’re tired of your perpetual blush, schedule an appointment with Dr. Naik to discuss the benefits of IPL for rosacea. Call our friendly staff at 661-230-8306 today.
