Posts Tagged ‘vbeam’

April is National Rosacea Awareness Month

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

rosaceaAccording to Practical Dermatology (March 2011), more than 16 million Americans are affected by rosacea.  When most people hear the word rosacea, they think of facial redness.  However, rosacea is a little more complicated than that.  Rosacea is a tendency to flush or blush easily. The condition progresses to persistent redness, pimples, and visible threadlike blood vessels (telangiectasias) in the center of the face. These skin changes can eventually spread to the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose.  The National Rosacea Society conducted a survey recently in which 76 percent of surveyed rosacea patients stated that their skin condition lowered their self-esteem and self-confidence.  Surprisingly, “only a fraction of the millions of Americans suffering from the condition has been treated”  (Practical Dermatology, March 2011).

So what are the treatment options available to those suffering with rosacea?  Patients may want to consider an oral antibiotic or topical treatments.  There are several prescription, as well as cosmeceutical products that are safe and effective.  In our office, we recommend DermSD Recover which is very effective at reducing redness and calming inflamed skin.  Of course when choosing this treatment method, patient compliance is crucial.  When oral antibiotics and topicals aren’t enough, patients may want to consider laser treatment.  Pulsed dye lasers, like the Vbeam, are extremely effective at reducing redness, minimizing telangiectasias, and decreasing breakouts associated with rosacea.  In this day and age of technology-on-the-go, a new resource will become available to those with rosacea: a smart phone app!  The Rosacea App, which will launch in April, will provide those who have, or think they have rosacea with valuable information. 

To learn more about rosacea and available treatment options, please visit the following links:

San Diego Dermatology Medical Dermatology Reference Library

San Diego Dermatology Blood Vessel Treatment

National Rosacea Society

Study Shows Pulsed-dye Laser Effective for Acne

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

A report on Medwire-news.com details a study which shows that Pulsed-dye laser(PDL), aka Vbeam, is an effective treatment for acne (Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology).  The study consisted of 20 patients who were treated with PDL on one side of their face and another laser on the other side of the face.  While both laser treatments were effective in improving facial acne, a histopathological assesment “showed a reduced inflammatory reaction… this was more pronounced in the PDL-treated sides.”  Additionally, the study also found that acne stayed away longer on the sides treated with PDL. 

In our office, we often treat patients with Vbeam, in addition to Smoothbeam laser to treat acne.  Laser treatments offer patients an alternative to traditional acne treatments.  Multiple treatments are often needed, but the results can be dramatic.  To learn more about Pulsed-dye laser, follow this link to our website: Laser treatment of acne

Before treatment with Vbeam and Smoothbeam

Before treatment with Vbeam and Smoothbeam

After treatment with Vbeam and Smoothbeam laser

After treatment with Vbeam and Smoothbeam laser

Certain skin types more likely to have rosacea

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

rosaceaAccording to a report on Medwire news (Factors involved in pathogenesis rosacea revealed; By Helen Albert 11 September 2009 J Eur Acad ), certain individuals are more susceptible to rosacea then others, based on their skin type.

Rosacea is a chronic condition that causes redness and swelling of the face, although it can also affect other areas, like the eyes (ocular rosacea).  Those afflicted with rosacea may first notice a tendency to flush or blush easily. The condition progresses to persistent redness, pimples, and visible, threadlike blood vessels (telangiectasias) in the center of the face.  These skin changes can eventually spread to the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose.  -Derm SD website: medical dermatology

According to MedWire News, the study shows that “key factors in the pathogenesis of rosacea include having a paler skin type, [and] chronic sun exposure.”

Interestingly, the study also found that “until the age of 71 years of age 70% more women had rosacea than men, but in those aged 71 years and above 60% more men than women had the condition, suggesting that men may develop the disease at an older age.”

Even with these new findings, “Many aspects of rosacea require further investigation and more future studies are needed…”  However, while there is no way to completely get rid of rosacea, it can be maintained with topicals and/or laser treatments, such as V Beam.  To learn more about laser treatment of rosacea, please follow the link: V Beam laser information