IPL or laser for redness alone?

Question

I have redness not deep veins. I drunk wine without make up and after two glasses I looked like I was sunburned. doctor discouraged me from Cutera saying this laser won't help because I have just redness. Should I even start with IPL or other laser? I had IPL wasn't too pleased with result but the settings were too low probably since I wasn't even more red after a laser. I wake up pale! I'm not struggling with acne anymore. Is Fotona the same as IPL or other lasers?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented  scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve  the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture.  Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.
 
Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

R. Brannon Claytor, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,

IPL is a great for reducing redness, treating broken blood vessels, and diminishing appearance of age or brown spots.  One treatment usually is not enough to clear redness or rosacea.  Typically for redness or rosacea, a series of 3 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart is best for optimal results.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

redness needs numerous treatments including skincare, vascular lasers need to be more regular every 1-3 months for a while, and non ablative lasers every 2-3 months. regular facials and at home rolling.

at home peels like cosmelan, enlighten and aerify along with dermarolling (MTS roller with anteage MD ampules weekly, see link) should be started now to prevent further aging.

For facial rejuvenation,  I would suggest a combination approach of 
1) skin care with products and PRP/microneedling
2) PDT light therapy few times a month with growth factors
3) laser treatments like clear and brilliant regularly and a few times a year Fraxel/halo Viva, Co2/Erbium
4) Sculptra injections a few times a year for collagen production with fillers like juvederm/restylane/belotero/radiesse/bellafill
5) thermage/ultherapy for yearly skin tightening with or without PDO or cone based instalift threads for lifting
6) botox every 2-3 months to stop movement lines and prevent lines at rest
7) deep microneedling RF like Fractora/morpheus8 for tightening of the skin
8) Vascular laser like vbeam/excel V or BBL forever young treatment every quarter (3-4 months)

Best, Dr. Emer.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hello Phenomenal.  If you are getting redness and flushing when you drink alcohol, then it's very possible that you have Rosacea.  Rosacea is a chronic condition (no cure) that often comes on in the 30's or 40's.  Most Rosacea patients are lighter skinned Northern European descent but Asian's and Hispanics can also get it as well.  It is characterized by general redness in the cheeks and nose, which small blood vessels often visible.  There are topical treatments (medication) for Rosacea, but our experience has been that when Rosacea patients do not respond to medications, they will often get better with lasers.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is one option for Rosacea, but we typically use it for very mild cases, especially when a few small blood vessels are present.  For more advanced Rosacea, continuous flushing or more numerous blood vessels, we use pulsed dye lasers.  We use the Candela V-Beam, but there are others that are similar.  Using this higher powered device (and sometimes bruising treatments), we are able to significantly curtail the appearance of Rosacea in 3-5 visits.

Lillian Schapiro, MD · Answer

IPL is designed to reduce unwanted darkening of the skin. If you have increased blood flow to your skin when you get flushed from drinking alcohol, treating the skin won’t help that.

Reuel Aspacio, MD, FAAD - Account Suspended · Answer

Our office treats redness and flushing using the Cutera Excel V. It is very effective at erasing broken capillaries, telangiectasias, superficial matting and small, miscellaneous clusters of blood vessels as it is designed specifically to target hemoglobin (blood) in the skin. It is also great for treating Rosacea. Make sure you seek out an experienced provider. We hope this information is useful and wish you the very best of luck in achieving your skin care goals

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