Procedure name:
Rosacea Treatment
Anticipated result of the procedure:
Rosacea treatments are all aimed to control the intensity of this disorder. The treatments should reduce the appearance of the red, irritated, acne like breakouts brought on by rosacea. The treatments will help patients suffering from this condition to feel more attractive, to more readily take part in social functions, and to feel more comfortable with their self-image.
Procedure Description:
Long-term treatment (5 to 8 weeks or more) with oral antibiotics such as tetracycline may control skin eruptions. Oral medications similar to vitamin A (isoretinol or Accutane) are a stronger alternative.
The treatment of skin eruptions may also include long-term treatment with topical (applied to a localized area of the skin) antibiotics such as metronidazole. In severe cases, laser surgery may help reduce the redness. Surgical reduction of enlarged nose tissue may also improve the patient's appearance.
Length:
Varies with different treatments
Anesthesia:
Only used for laser treatments
In/Outpatient:
Outpatient
Temporary Side Effects:
Soreness or redness of skin after laser surgery
Recovery:
Rosacea can not be cured, although treatment may help breakouts. The condition may be chronic.
Duration of Results:
Results will vary. Each patient is very different in their reactions. Treatments may need to be continued.
Risks:
Laser surgery holds the possibility of further skin complications if it is not administered properly.
- Oral or topical antibiotics
- Oral medications
- Laser surgery
Top Duke specialists:
- Sarah Myers, MD
- Linda Lee, MD, PhD
FAQS
Laser treatment of rosacea
How many treatments are done? / How far apart should the treatments be?
The number of treatments depends on the skin condition. There should be approximately 4 weeks between each treatment. Studies have shown that the most improvement with this treatment is seen with this regimen.
Is there any downtime?
Patients may apply makeup immediately after treatment, but need to be cautious with any product usage for 24 hours. There should be no tanning for 24 hours before or after treatment. After treatment, brown spots may get darker and flake off (this is a good thing!), but may take several days. Sometimes it may even take up to the second or third treatment.
When can I expect results?
This all depends on the patient. Each patient and condition is different. Some patients will see results in one treatment, for others it will take 5 treatments to see results. There is not much downtime so we need to be patient with our expectations.
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