Vascular lasers are used by professionals to treat multiple types of skin conditions. Treatment of conditions such as rosacea and telangiectases can be particularly successful. Vascular lasers emit a beam of light that penetrates the outer layers of skin reaching the blood vessels below. The targeted blood vessels soak up all of the energy in the beam, generating heat, and are destroyed by that brief but intense heat. During vascular laser treatment, the heat generated from the laser coagulates the blood inside the vessel, causing it to collapse and seal. The body removes the damaged tissue naturally and the resulting bruise fades normally.
To help avoid injury to adjacent tissue, three strategies are implemented:
First, the color of light used is carefully selected to maximize effectiveness. The hemoglobin within the vessel soaks up the light energy much better and faster than anything else in the tissue, increasing accuracy.
Second, the light pulses are very brief, allowing the light to heat up the desired target and not adjacent tissue.
Third, and possibly most important, success depends on having a highly skilled operator. The operator determines the optimal energy density for each individual at each session. While the laser is extremely safe there is no substitute for years of experience.
Vascular Laser Treatment for Rosacea
Rosacea is a common, red, acne-like benign skin condition that affects an estimated 16 million people in the United States alone and approximately 45 million worldwide. Most people with rosacea are over age 30, caucasian, and have fair skin. This chronic, inflammatory condition includes symptoms of red or pink facial skin, small dilated blood vessels, small red bumps sometimes containing pus, cysts, and pink or irritated eyes.
Most people with this condition may not even know they have rosacea or that it is a diagnosable and treatable condition. Many people who have rosacea may just assume they blush or flush easily or are just very sun sensitive. Vascular laser treatment for rosacea works by targeting the vessels that create the red pigment, allowing the skin to return to its normal tone.
Vascular Laser Treatment for Telangiectases
Telangiectases, sometimes called spider veins, are small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin. They can develop anywhere on the body but are commonly seen on the face around the nose, cheeks, and chin. They can also develop on the legs, specifically on the upper thigh, below the knee joint, and around the ankles. Targeting these dilated vessels with the vascular laser allows them to be sealed and resorbed by the body, resulting in smoother skin.
What to Expect During Treatments
Safety glasses or a shield will be given to you to wear during your treatment. The laser light will be focused and delivered to precise locations. You may feel a brief warm sensation as the laser bursts are emitted. The entire procedure may take a few minutes to half an hour, depending on the size of the area needing treatment.
The most common side effect is discoloration or bruising of the area. The area may be sensitive to the touch or feel as if there is a slight sunburn. Most swelling, redness, and sensitivity resolve themselves in 2-3 days.
Most patients will experience significant improvement of their rosacea and telangiectases after the first treatment. Two or three follow-up treatments may be needed for best results.
