IPL vs. V-Beam for Rosacea

I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist to develop a treatment plan that works for you. For rosacea, I prefer a combination approach using lasers (ProYellow, Pulsed Dye/V-Beam, Excel V), peels and Botox to the cheeks. This results in dramatic changes in color and symptoms. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Rosacea is a chronic condition that needs ongoing treatment to maintain control and best appearance. The V Beam and many other lntense pulse light laser (IPL) devices are also beneficial and the recovery time is fast. You will need to pretreat and post treat your skin with a retinol, lightening agent and sunscreen to minimize your chance for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)#Rosacea#BBLlaser#PIH

I have both laser and IPL in my practice and would use a combination modality treatment with both systems in the setting of pre and post treatment with skin lighteners.  I prefer the Melarase AM and Melarase PM line of products as pretreatment before IPL and pulsed dye laser. Raffy Karamanoukian MD FACS

The Vbeam laser is highly specialized for treating Rosacea. The general idea behind lasers is that they use a single wavelength to accomplish a specific objective. The Vbeam uses the 595nm wavelength because this form of light is easily absorbed by oxygenated hemoglobin carried by your blood cells.  This serves as the target point of entry for the laser to enter your skin. Once it is in your blood vessels, it heats the walls which causes them to seal off and become non-functional tissue that is disposed by the body. 

Since Rosacea is basically a condition of unwanted blood vessels, the Vbeam is an ideal tool for clearing this condition.

IPL is not able to accomplish this because it uses many different wavelengths. Although positive benefits have been reported, the outcomes are not predictable. 

Watch the video below to see the Vbeam in action on a real patient.

Vbeam is actually safe on melisma prone skin yet powerful enough to treat redness.
V beam treatment is so safe that it has been used successfully for the treatment of port wine stains in infants and young children. The Vbeam skin laser can also be used to treat rosacea, stretch marks, warts and keloids, or even tiny spider veins on the legs or face.
After applying numbing cream, the laser light is applied to the patient’s skin. Vbeam skin laser treatment is relatively painless and does not require a long healing time. The most common reaction patients experience include just a few hours of mild redness.
Treatment with the Vbeam may consist of multiple treatments, depending upon the condition and needs of the patient’s body. For facial veins, one treatment may be sufficient for clearance (that said, additional treatments are not uncommon). These treatments occur on an average of every 4 weeks depending on the area and type of treatment.
In contrast, IPL can cause further hyperpigmentation because it works on melanin in the skin.