Microcurrent or Thermage for Rosacea Treatment?

Question

Will treatments like Microcurrent or Thermage help with rosacea or will it worsen the condition?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Sarah Hahn Hsu, MD · Answer

There are other lasers and light based treatments, such as pulsed dye laser, IPL rejuvenation and LED therapy that can help with rosacea. I’d recommend a consultation with your dermatologist to determine the best course of treatment for your rosacea.
Our office doesn’t offer microcurrent treatments and we do not recommend them. Unless you are participating in a FDA approval clinical trial, it is best to seek treatment methods backed by rigorous studies that have FDA approval and have the skin treatment performed by a board certified dermatologist. Thermage works to help tighten the skin and produce collagen, but it does not treat rosacea.

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD (retired) · Answer

Rosacea skin is very reactive. It seems to worsen with hot, cold and wind. I cannot see how the radiofrequency waves,, which are intended to damage the collagen of the dermis would in any way improve rosaea. The same would hold true for mild electic currents. It would seemd to be, logically, that these modalities could possibly worsen rosacea.
     If this is being suggested by a dermatologist who is very experienced in dealing with rosacea, and this dermatologist feels it is a good idea, I would defer to their opinion on this matter. It seems to me to be an expensive stretch to think it would do any better for your condition than say IPL.

Microcurrent or Thermage for Rosacea Treatment?

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