Newsletter May 2007 – Facial Redness

Facial Redness (Rosacea) Causes and Treatments

Many patients that are concerned with facial redness (with or without a medical diagnosis of Rosacea) seek advice on how best to treat this common skin condition. Although many patients speculate that they may have Rosacea, they are unsure as to what causes it and how best to treat it.

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that is associated with alternating periods of remission and exacerbation. The facial redness is associated with superficial blood vessels that are close to the surface of the skin. Certain triggers such as sun exposure, alcohol, and spicy foods may cause a flare of facial redness when these blood vessels are dilated (open and visible).

Often Rosacea will affect the central part of the face such as the cheeks, nose, chin, and middle of the forehead. This condition may lead to changes in the texture of the skin which presents as a rough, uneven, or fleshy appearance. Although it is more prevalent in lighter skin types, patients with medium skin can also get facial redness and/or Rosacea.

Rosacea Treatment

Facial redness may also be a symptom of Acne Rosacea. This condition appears with small, red raised acne lesions that are usually found in the same areas as the redness. Although there are a few theories as to what causes Acne Rosacea, it is known that both conditions (Acne and Rosacea) must be treated concurrently for optimal results.

Although there is no cure for Rosacea, there are several effective treatments to control this persistent condition. Because there appears to be a chronic inflammatory skin response that contributes to Rosacea, certain topical and oral medications may be prescribed as an adjunct to treatment. Using gentle skin care products also helps to control inflammation and redness by providing a proper pH balance and constricting the superficial blood vessels. At Celibre, we recommend Green Tea products, daily sunscreen, and effective moisturizers.

Treating facial redness with Class IV medical lasers is a good option for many. Besides resolving the existing redness, these lasers can stimulate and remodel existing collagen which in turn leads to improved skin texture. The pulsed dye laser is considered the gold standard for treating vascular skin conditions such as facial redness/Rosacea because this technology effectively closes the superficial blood vessels that are the underlying cause of the facial redness.

Depending on your goals, lifestyle, and skin type – a treatment plan can be designed that takes all of these into consideration. Research shows that aggressive laser treatments that involve a short amount of downtime offer quicker and more dramatic results. However, for those that are unable or unwilling to have any downtime, the same laser may still be utilized for consistent, predictable outcomes.

At Celibre, we focus on patient education. We want our patients to understand and participate in the decisions that make up their care plan. To this end, our knowledgeable medical staff are here to help you weigh the benefits and risks of our Laser treatments and Injections.

Our team would be pleased to offer a complimentary consultation to address your skin care goals. A good starting place is to gather information and view before and after photos of Celibre patients in our photo gallery.

At Celibre, we stay at the forefront of research and best practices so that we may offer the most appropriate and effective injections and laser treatment plans for our valued patients. Please give us a call to learn more about laser treatments and injections.


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