Clinical Case of Rosacea Treatment with IPL

Clinical Case

• Patient's age: 55 years old
• Problem: Rosacea
• Treatment: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
• Results: Photographs before and 2 months after an IPL session

Click on the images to see this and other success stories.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is an exclusively cutaneous disease that, in its initial phase, is characterized by redness of the skin associated with small, tortuous blood vessels (telangiectasias).

Since it usually affects the central area of the face, it constitutes an aesthetic problem that, in most cases, causes a lot of social discomfort.

However, it's not just about aesthetics. Rosacea often causes very uncomfortable symptoms for patients, such as:

• Flushing
• Ardor
• Stinging sensation

What are the risk factors for developing Rosacea?

This problem typically occurs in patients with fair skin (low phototypes) who have had considerable sun exposure. It usually develops after the age of 40, but it can appear at earlier ages.

Skin color and sun exposure are the two main risk factors for developing this disease.

What are the symptoms of Rosacea?

There are mainly 3 phases of this disease:

1. In the first phase, the vessels on the face begin to dilate, telangiectasias and redness appear.
2. In a second phase, the situation worsens, with small pimples (papulopustules) appearing on the cheeks and nose.
3. Finally, in a more advanced stage, proliferation of fibroglandular tissue occurs, giving rise to phymas, normally in the nasal area, giving rise to the so-called rhinophyma.

Clinical Case of Rosacea Treatment

What was the stage of the patient in question?

This lady was in the second stage of rosacea, with papulopustules, when she began treatment at the Allure Clinic.

What treatments were performed?

Treatment began with the application of creams and oral medication.

However, even after marked improvement, the patient continued to experience burning and stinging sensations, as well as worsening redness in hot environments. This facial flushing ended up causing great discomfort and inhibiting her from socializing.

Aiming for the most effective correction of rosacea, Dr. Ana Isabel Moreira suggested treatment with IPL (intense pulsed light).

The objective was to correct the erythema and occlude the telangiectasias on the face, significantly improving this skin problem.

In this way, it was possible to minimize the symptoms, improve the aesthetic condition and the patient began to feel more self-confident.

What is the IPL?

THE IPL is intense pulsed light that emits pulses with various wavelengths, which will have an affinity for certain chromophores. In other words, in this case, since we're talking about blood vessels, the goal is to target hemoglobin.

Therefore, our IPL has the ideal wavelength (between 500 and 600 nanometers) to target hemoglobin, close vessels and reduce erythema.

The procedure involves applying a conductive gel and then performing IPL treatment on the affected areas. Finally, a healing and soothing cream is applied, allowing the skin to begin healing immediately.

After this procedure, patients experience significant aesthetic improvement, associated with fewer symptoms.

Is the treatment painless?

No anesthesia is required. Patients only feel a warm sensation and some stinging during the treatment. However, some people are more sensitive than others, and if the procedure proves uncomfortable, the parameters can be adjusted to ensure it is completed.

When is the best time to start the treatment?

The hottest months, such as July, August, and September, should be avoided. In fact, sun exposure should be avoided in the days following treatment. The procedure can be performed in the remaining months as long as the patient maintains the care recommended by the dermatologist.

How long does the procedure take and how many sessions are needed?

The procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

The number of sessions varies depending on the patient's condition. Two or three sessions may be necessary to achieve best results.