red-light-therapy rocacea

Rosacea Treatment with Red Light Therapy

Rosacea Treatment

Rosacea has been estimated to affect more than 16 million Americans. It’s a condition that can seem to be a harmless irritation like mild acne or be something as severe as an inflamed and red face.

People of Northern European decent seem to be the most affected by rosacea, with women being three times more likely to suffer from it than men,  Mostly affecting the 30 to 50 age group it can be an unsightly and sometimes highly embarrassing condition for those affected.  

How does Rosacea start?

It can often start with a tendency to blush easily. After a time the central areas of the face become a more permanent shade of red. The red areas can be populated with small dilated blood vessels and studded with small red bumps and pus-filled spots. Fortunately scarring is rarely a problem.

Occasionally rhinophyma occurs. This is caused by an overgrowth in the oil-secreting glands on the nose may cause the nose to become enlarged and red. Rhinophyma is more commonly seen in men than women.

What Causes Rosacea?

The cause of rosacea is for the moment undiscovered. However some common factors have emerged  such as skin color, genetics and family history, and lifestyle are present with those who have this skin condition.

Many cases show only mild redness and so are never formally diagnosed. No definitive test for it is known, but a visual inspection by a trained health care professional should be sufficient for correct diagnosis. As it is primarily confined to the face, however it can still be occasionally confused with or co-exist with acne vulgaris.

Rosacea symptoms and flare ups can  be triggered by

Humidity
Overexertion
High blood pressure
Exposure to the sun
Spicy food
Stress
Alcohol

Unfortunately there is no known cure for rosacea, but treatment is now available to minimize symptoms and control flare ups.

Red Light Therapy Treatment Recommendations

rosaceaRed light therapy has emerged with various medicines and other alternative therapies as an effective tool  to assist in managing the condition.

Red light provides  wavelengths that penetrate several milli-meters into the dermis to reduce inflammation and promote cellular healing. This can ease the uncomfortable, red, bumpy, itchy, dry, tight, and burning symptoms of rosacea. See our complete guide to Red Light Therapy >>

While visible red light is recommend as the best light therapy wavelength for rosacea treatment there are other light wavelengths that can be beneficial too. Many home therapy devices do offer a variety of color options such as blue,green, amber and infrared.

Green light is effective for the treatment of rosacea flushes. Green wavelengths can help with hyper-pigmentation and redness. 

Amber light is meant to sooth and calm irritated and reactive skin. When combined into treatment sessions with red light many people  find that their skin responds.

Blue light is used in the treatment of acne, The antiseptic and antibacterial properties of blue light can be used by people who are medication intolerant.

Infrared light has a variety of uses. It penetrates the deepest into the dermis cell tissues. It is normally used for tissue regeneration and pain relief. It is not indicated for rosacea treatment.

Red Light Benefits for Rosacea Treatment
Decreases inflammation
Speeds the rate of skin healing.
Retards the worsening of rosacea symptoms
Helps to heal existing acne rosacea and redness without any added irritation
Drug-free and non-invasive
Safe for daily use
Easy for home use
Simple to self-treat
Does not lose effectiveness over time.
Easy to use at home

What type of therapy device should you look for.

This is rather a difficult question to answer. It depends on vary many variables. As it should be a one time investment, you need to carefully consider your life style and how the treatment will fit into it. Also who will use it.

For example if you are a frequent traveller then a desktop panal device is not going to be a such a good idea, But if you have a large treatment area then a desktop tryptic device would be just what you need.  If you are a traveller with a large treatment area? well you are going to have to decide!!! You get the picture.

Another question that is often overlooked though is, are there any other family members that might benefit light wavelengths than red?  Do you have an athlete in the family that might benefit from infrared when an injury happens. Or do you have a teenager that might use blue light for acne breakouts. 

Tips for Self care

Don’t rub your face as this can further inflame your rosacea.
Don’t use perfumed soap as the chemicals can make thecondition worse.
Try a soap substitute to clean your face. Also consider using un-perfumed moisturizers if your skin is dry.
Make note of lifestyle factors that can worsen rosacea. Learn which ones cause your flare ups and avoid them. Keeping a written record of the flare-ups can often help.
Always protect your skin from the sun by using a full strength sun block.
Do not use topical preparations containing corticosteroids, unless recommended by your health professional, as these can make rosacea worse over time.
Some medicines can aggravate blushing, ask your doctor to make appropriate changes to your medication if possible.