Fraxel Re:store or Fraxel Re:pair for Rosacea?

I am a 19-year-old white female who has tried everything from topical medication to oral antibiotics, microdermabrasions and chemical peels. Just recently heard about this Fraxel treatment and I'm wondering which version works best for rosacea?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by anonymous001 in Florida

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Rosacea and Fraxel

There is no theoretical reason why Fraxel would help Rosacea. Acne Rosacea, consists of red bumps, pustules, increased capillary blood vessel formation in the surface skin and increased oil gland size which can thicken the nose. Not all of these features are seen in all patients with Rosacea. The bumps and pustules might flare with more aggressive laser resurfacing including Fraxel Re:pair and even the non-ablative Fraxel Re:store. The blood vessels do not tend to disappear with either... more

Fraxel for Rosacea

Both Fraxel Restore (Erbium glass fractionated laser) and Fraxel Repair (fractionated CO2) laser target water in the skin (water is the target chromophore). Because rosacea is a vascular (red) problem, lasers which target blood/hemoglobin usually work better than those that target water. While both the Fraxel Restore and Repair can improve redness in the skin (rosacea), I would suggest going with a laser which will target blood such as a pulsed dye laser or a broad-band light source (IPL... more

How about neither?

If you have a doctor who is pushing this on you, you need to go elsewhere! None of these lasers are effective for this problem and can actually cause damage. It used to be thought that this type of laser treatment might help rosacea. We now know better, but it sounds like you are hearing some bad information. On the other hand, IPL is fantastic for that and would be a great adjunctive tool to medications if you wished. Good luck!

Neither Fraxel Restore or Fraxel Repair are my favorite

Fraxel Repair likely will flare your rosacea. Restore may help, but I doubt it. Have you tried Theraplex B-lift peels? IPL? Isolaz? In my experience these give more consistent results, but remember that rosacea is chronic and nothing will cure it. Only control and remission are reasonable goals. Good luck.