Living with a chronic skin condition can be challenging. Flare-ups, redness, and visible blood vessels can quickly affect one’s appearance and overall quality of life. However, many people do not know that their optometrist may be able to help!
If you have chronic rosacea, your optometrist can recommend intense pulsed light or radiofrequency treatment—like OptiPLUS by Lumenis. This helps stimulate the blood vessels, promote collagen production, and improve your skin’s overall appearance, helping reduce the impact rosacea can have on your quality of life.
What Is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that primarily affects the face. It often appears at first as a tendency to blush or flush easier than others, appearing as a visible redness near the center of the face.
Though it can occur at any age, it typically begins developing after age 30. Over time, this redness becomes worse and more persistent, eventually leading to visible blood vessels throughout the face. Rosacea can also affect the eyes, causing them to appear bloodshot and overly watery. In severe cases, small pus-filled bumps begin to form across the face.
While it is not yet known what exactly causes this condition, it’s believed to be related to a problem with the immune and neurovascular systems. Demodex mites—the minuscule mites living on the surface of your skin—are also notably higher in patients experiencing rosacea. There is also likely a genetic component to this condition.
How to Recognize Rosacea
Rosacea can be a bit complicated. While some patients experience most or all of the symptoms, others may only experience a few at a time. However, recognizing the symptoms of rosacea is the first step towards managing it effectively.
To diagnose the condition as rosacea, it must have either of these 2 symptoms:
- Persistent redness on the cheeks, nose, forehead, or chin
- Thickening of the skin, commonly on the nose
If these symptoms are not present, then 2 of the following symptoms can lead to a proper diagnosis:
- Frequent flushing, blushing, or redness, often with warmth or heat in the area
- Bumps and pimples throughout the face, but not constant blackheads
- Visible blood vessels on the cheeks and nose
- Bloodshot eyes
Alongside those symptoms, a person may also experience:
- Mild swelling
- Burning or stinging sensations in the skin
- Itching
- Dry skin
- Eye irritation
If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, it is time to visit an experienced professional. Fortunately, your optometrist may be able to help.
How to Treat Rosacea
Many patients do not realize that their primary eye care optometrist can often help with this chronic skin condition using Intense pulsed light (IPL).
This treatment can be an excellent approach to treating conditions like rosacea. But how?
How IPL Can Treat Rosacea
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) uses gentle amounts of customized broad-spectrum light waves to target the blood vessels under the skin. Each patient is evaluated based on their skin type, skin condition, amount of melanin, and other factors such as skin treatment history. This information is then used to calculate a specific wavelength and intensity of light. Customized pulses of light waves target different layers of the skin where the inflammatory blood vessels have originated. This inflammation is the origin of the rosacea blood vessel bundles. This light energy is absorbed by the blood vessels which causes them to constrict. As a result, this reduces the redness and visible blood vessels to provide the patient with a much improved overall appearance and comfort.
This non-invasive approach can also help improve the overall appearance of your skin, making it look smoother, cleaner, and more even-toned. It’s a quick and convenient option for many people dealing with rosacea.
Once your rosacea has been controlled and your redness has been reduced, there is one more optional step.
OptiPLUS by Lumenis
Here at Danville Optometric Group, we often recommend the OptiPLUS by Lumenis once the Rosacea treatment is completed. Our OptiPlus machine is unique in that it has been upgraded with not only the dry eye treatment options, but the full aesthetics options as well. It utilizes radio frequency to target different layers of the skin. This treatment smooths and tightens the skin and is ideal for facial contouring.
This advanced treatment uses customized RF (radio frequency) wavelengths to address the following:
- Wrinkles: Crow’s Feet area, forehead, and glabella
- Loose skin on the eyelids such as bags
- Marionette Lines and the Jaw
- Acne scars on the cheek
- Skin texture issues such as the upper lip and nose
Where to Get Help for Your Rosacea
If you’re dealing with chronic rosacea, common skin problems, or an issue with your vision, our team here at Danville Optometric Group can help. Whether IPL, RF, or a combination is the right approach, we’ll help you find a solution to your unique needs. Don’t let rosacea impact your quality of life—schedule an appointment with our clinic today!
