Will Fraxel Make Rosacea Worse?

Typically Fraxel does not make Rosacea worse, in fact, some patients notice improvement in the red coloration from the Rosacea. The emollients used both in preparation of the procedure and for the aftercare can, however, exacerbate the rosacea, especially in Fraxel Repair as opposed to Fraxel Restore, the former being more invasive and requiring more creams after the treatment.

Active rosacea can be flared by some lasers like Fraxel, Erbium Yag, Pearl, etc. Rosacea is improved, however, by the lasers in the visible light range and Intense Pulsed, or Broadband Light devices. The target of lasers like Pearl and Fraxel is water in the dermis to stimulate improvement of scars or photoaging. For rosacea, the desired target is the hemoglobin in the dilated and flushed blood vessels. That does not mean Pearl or Fraxel are not good treatments. They are wonderful, but it... more