Should I go with PDL or BBL?

The best treatments for capillary issues are vascular lasers such as PDL, Excel V, Aerolase, Venus Versa IPL, Laser Genesis or Yellow laser. The settings are determined on a per case basis, so it is best to consult with an expert to determine what will work best for you. We often combine vascular lasers with non-ablative fractional lasers such as Clear + Brilliant or Venus Viva for better results. I would suggest seeing a cosmetic dermatologist for a formal evaluation. Best, Dr. Emer.

Thanks for your question.  There is a fundamental difference between those two treatments - pulsed dye laser is a true laser with one wavelength that specifically targets the blood vessels and hemoglobin in them, and the BBL is "Broad Beam Light" that is less specific and has several wavelengths coming out of the opening of the handpiece.  Both can be effective for redness but the vascular laser tends to have longer lasting results and is probably better for the small capillaries and spider veins.  BBL can do fine with overall redness and light brown pigment, so it depends on the skill and experience of your laser specialist.  I would definitely research their experience and see their own before and after photos.   Some places might not be able to afford a pulsed dye laser unless they were a valid dermatology clinic that treats serious issues like port wine stains.  Most spas do fine with BBL or IPL and don't need the more advanced technology of a vascular laser.  Best of luck.