Can Laser Make Rosacea Worse?
When performed correctly, vascular laser and IPL are very safe treatments. However, if the wrong settings are used for your skin type complications can occur.
Risks of flares, burns and hyperpigmentation
The primary risks are related to using excessive energy for your skin type. This can lead to a temporary post-treatment flare-up of inflammation. For this reason I will avoid laser settings that can cause significant bruising. IPL has higher risks in those with pigmented skin types and I would advise pulsed dye laser in this context.
How to minimise risk
It is important that treatment is performed by a specialist who has experience in treating your skin type. I always advise a patch test where the laser is tested on a smaller area using the same settings as will be used for the full treatment. After the patch test patients with lighter skin types can have a full treatment within a week or so but darker skin types may need to wait up to 2 weeks to ensure that they are not developing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
How can I help
I see patients in person in central London. An in person consultation allows me to examine the skin directly including features that are difficult to capture in a photograph such as 3-dimensional changes and textural change. This is the better option where the diagnosis is uncertain, where previous treatment has not been effective, or where a procedure is being considered. For more straightforward conditions such as acne and rosacea a remote consultation with clear photographs can be a good option.
Related articles
- IPL vs VBeam (PDL) for Redness and Veins
- How Many Laser Sessions Do I Need?
- Rosacea in Darker Skin Tones
