*This skin condition (Rosacea) is treated by a dermatologist with oral antibiotics, combined with a topical cream.
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterised by symptoms of facial inflammation and clinical signs including: development of visible blood vessels, hypertrophic lesions, red bumps and pimples (papules & pustules). Often confused with acne (it is considered a subtype of acne), rosacea is not the same and needs to be treated differently.
Rosacea tends to affect mostly women and occurs on the cheeks, nose and forehead. It can also occur on the neck, chest, scalp, and ears.
Clinical manifestation of rosacea & other vascular lesions:
- rosacea (inflammation in middle-face, redness, flushing, acne)
- telangiectasia
- hemangiomas
- spider veins
Couperose is a part of rosacea manifested by transient or permanent visible reddish vessels. This condition is explained by an anomaly of the capillary system of the face. Often these vessels will appear mainly on the sides of the nose, cheeks and cheekbones. Certain factors can amplify its appearance, such as exposure to extreme temperatures, diet or even taking certain medications.
Although the exact reason why people develop rosacea and couperose is still to this day mixed, we can still establish some common factors like:
- Genetic (fair skin, Celtic & northern European descent)
- Female hormones
- Allergies
- Parasites or bacteria
- Medication
- Lifestyle (spicy food, alcohol, red wine, UV exposure, extreme temperature (too hot or too cold), stress, inappropriate cosmetic products, and anything that may increase blood flow in the face
Currently, there is no cure for couperose, but Dr. Mario F. Bernier manage the disorder with annual IPL treatments.
Intense pulsed light device delivers energy from specific light spectrum, to destroy vascular lesions and blood vessels. Using the principle of selective photo-thermolysis, it targets different chromophores in the skin, which selectively absorb the light energy as heat to create a vasoconstriction.
With optimal wavelengths of light and Dr. Bernier expertise, usually, only one session is needed. Patients must come back at the clinic the following week after the procedure for a follow-up appointment. Touch-ups can be performed in case of needed. Post-treatment patients may feel warmth and/or have residual redness on the skin, but these symptoms will resolve within a few hours after the procedure and no downtime is required.
Once the treatment is finished, it is strongly recommended to use soft and natural cosmetics, in order to restore the skin. In addition, the daily application of a sunscreen based on inert minerals is strongly suggested. As rosacea is a vascular situation, generally patients must have this procedure at least once a year.
See the result after only IPL treatment for couperose.
IPL treatment (Intense pulsed light)
$600 and up
Ask for a consultation for the treatment of rosacea at our clinic and say goodbye to those small broken veins on your face!