Getting the red out:
FAQs about managing rosacea to support clear, healthy skin
There are many products and providers that claim to ease the redness and inflammation of rosacea. However, Apex Dermatology of Westlake Village, California, stands by our board-certified dermatologists’ specialized knowledge and skill when treating this common yet often misunderstood skin condition.
What is rosacea, exactly?
Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that takes many forms or types. Collectively, symptoms of rosacea across types can include skin sensitivity, redness, and flushing of the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. There may be visible bumps resembling acne, dilated or broken capillaries, and spider veins. The eyes may be involved (ocular rosacea) and may feel gritty, hypersensitive, watery, and as if something is “stuck” in them. Some with rosacea may experience skin thickening, especially in the nasal region (a “bulbous nose”).
What causes rosacea?
The exact cause of rosacea is elusive. However, some factors put you at increased risk of developing rosacea. If a primary biological relative has rosacea, you are more likely to develop it. Immune system function, microscopic skin mites, certain gut bacteria associated with GI damage, and dysfunction related to a protein responsible for protecting the skin have all been implicated in the development of rosacea. Additionally, like eczema and other skin diseases, inflammation or stress can be common triggers.
What are some of these triggers?
Many environmental and lifestyle factors can aggravate rosacea symptoms and cause flare-ups—these range from sun exposure and poorly managed stress to the consumption of alcohol and spicy foods.
How does Apex Dermatology treat rosacea?
For starters, there is no “cure” for rosacea. However, our providers can work with you to manage your symptoms effectively, reduce the burden, and make your skin more comfortable, less irritable, and healthier in terms of both look and feel. In addition to identifying, minimizing, and avoiding triggers such as those listed above, they may recommend a world-class, light-based treatment: Cutera® Excel® V and/or Sciton BBL.
How does Excel® V work?
This gold-standard laser generates dual wavelengths of energy to support fast, safe, highly precise, and tissue-preserving improvements in the frequency and severity of rosacea symptoms. It also features built-in cooling to minimize heat and promote the most comfortable treatment experience. These pigment irregularities are specifically targeted, damaged, and eliminated by the body safely and naturally.
How does BBL work?
BBL uses a specially selected spectrum of light to calm inflammation, target blood vessels, and even help you build collagen. BBL and Excel V might even be used in conjunction for some patients. If you need lifting of the skin, you can do a BBL combined with a same-day Sofwave ultrasound treatment without stressing your rosacea. If you need skin resurfacing, texture improvement, wrinkle reduction, or pore reduction, Clear & Brilliant laser or Fraxel Dual can be combined with BBL therapy.
What therapy is right for me?
There is no single procedure that is appropriate for all patients with rosacea. Depending on your needs, we may also prescribe topical or systemic antibiotics and other medications to reduce inflammation and clear up certain lesions (such as spots that resemble pimples and are often mistaken for acne). Sometimes, sustaining significant improvements may take a few different types of or series of therapies.
Whatever the case, our patients in Westlake Village, CA, and beyond have peace of mind in our specialists’ diagnostic and therapeutic expertise. After all, effective management of rosacea is built on a foundation of a sound diagnosis. Call 818-889-2739 to find out more and to book your consultation.
