If you have rosacea, you likely know your triggers—and many of them are inherently part of the holiday season. Palo Alto Laser and Skin Care offers BBL to treat rosacea, the second-generation IPL photofacial that reduces redness. Here, we’re more than a medical day spa. With Zuzana Likar personally training her staff to exacting standards, you will have the best odds of getting your rosacea under control in time for your next holiday shindig. Let’s take a look at why rosacea peaks in the winter months and what you can do about it.
Everyone is different, and every person with rosacea has their own triggers. However, some of the most common triggers include wind, cold, makeup, and alcohol (especially red wine). If that sounds like a list of things you deal with during the holidays, you’re not alone. ‘Tis the season of rosacea, but that doesn’t mean you have to look like Rudolph this time around. We have the tools to help you better understand why rosacea is rearing its ugly head and the laser therapy to get it in check.
Why Rosacea Right Now?
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes visible blood vessels and redness. It most often presents on the face, but can also be on the neck, chest, ears, and head. You might see patches of dry skin, enlarged pores, nose swelling, bumps that look like acne, and feel like the skin is burning or stinging. Such symptoms can persist for weeks when untreated, especially in the winter.
Nobody knows exactly what causes this condition, but we do know that it’s important to identify triggers and that the redness is caused by increased blood flow. During winter months when the air is cold and dry, rosacea is more common. The skin is already irritated by environmental factors. Add in holiday cheer with happy hours and mulled wine, and it’s a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, even though rosacea isn’t curable, it is certainly manageable. BBL is the gold standard for getting rosacea under control.
BBL and Rosacea
Rosacea can be tough to treat because a lot of so-called therapies actually make flare-ups worse. BBL bypasses the skin’s surface to treat the actual root of the flare-up, which means additional stress is kept to a minimum. The BBL therapeutic light soothes dilated blood vessels that are causing the redness. Sometimes there are no avoiding triggers entirely. Winter is here, and you shouldn’t have to completely opt-out of holiday cheer.
If you want to actually treat the source of rosacea symptoms instead of just covering it up, BBL can help make this happen. BBL not only treats actively dilated blood vessels, but prevents them from flaring up again in the future. At the same time, BBL offers restorative perks, such as new cell growth. This cutting-edge light-based technology actually shrinks blood vessels, which means you enjoy skin that is calmer and more evenly toned.
What to Expect with BBL
BBL is a favorite laser treatment for a variety of skin conditions, not just rosacea. One reason is because it is so quick and comfortable. It is often described as feeling like a rubber band snapping against the skin’s surface, and topical numbing creams are available for sensitive clients. Most BBL sessions for rosacea take only 15 minutes and there’s little to no downtime. Any redness from the treatments will subside quickly, and patients can immediately apply sunscreen, makeup, and other typical topicals. You can immediately return to work or daily tasks after a BBL session. However, to be certain there is no lingering redness, you may want to schedule BBL treatments the week before a big event.
Your exact healing time from BBL will vary, but most people see any redness dissipate 2 – 5 days after their session. It is common to see freckles and age spots darken before they “flake off” within one week of the treatment. Note that if you are opting for BBL for rosacea, you might also experience a side effect of unwanted brown spots disappearing after your treatment, but be aware that they can look darker first so plan your holiday partying accordingly.
Are you ready to regain control of your rosacea this holiday season? Schedule your complimentary consultation or appointment with Palo Alto Laser and Skin Care today. Call the office or, for a faster response, complete the online form.