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POSTED UNDER Vbeam REVIEWS

Vbeam ruined my skin, a month later I have large red spots all over face

ORIGINAL POST

Vbeam Ruined my Skin

rougefee
$318
I got a Vbeam (intense pulsed dye laser) by a PA at my dermatologist’s office nearly 4 weeks ago for a couple of small broken capillaries on my cheeks & petechiae on my forehead. She did not give me the option of having non-purpura settings (settings she used: 7mm size, 8 joules/cm2, 46 pulses) & she said I had to bruise for it to work. Nearly a month later, I have large red spots that look like chicken pox all over my face. She told me I would be bruised for 10 days but she did not mention that I would have Post-Inflammatory Erythema that may be permanent. She said the only thing I can do to help this is use Arnica cream on my face. If you have pale, fragile skin please ask for one test spot first before getting a treatment with the Vbeam purpura setting & wait 3 weeks to see how your skin responds or find a new provider that will do the non-purpura setting. Unfortunately this is the only dermatologist in my city that does intense pulse dye treatments. I completely regret getting this treatment because my skin looks 100 times worse! (Before & after photo of forehead included.)

Replies (3)

June 13, 2023
Thank you for sharing this with photos. My concern that I might end up with permanent post-inflammatory discoloration is the reason I have never yet had Vbeam. I have rosacea and visible red vessels on my face so am definitely a candidate. But, I bruise easily and often end up with permanent or long-term marks if I have a pimple or wound. I would wear sunblock and a hat and, hopefully, it improves and lightens soon. Have you tried Vitamin C serum?
June 13, 2023
One more thing, providers have also told me that if they do not use purpura settings I will not get results -- so I have not felt ready for it yet. Wish there was a better treatment option.
June 13, 2023
Thank you for the suggestion! Unfortunately, all of the vitamin C treatments I've used have made my face sting. Since my Vbeam treatment, I have had two Nd:yag (Aerolase) laser treatments and an IPL treatment, both of which have reduced the redness with no adverse effects but I can still see the red spots, especially if I get overheated. I am going to a provider in a different city next week to get a test spot of a Vbeam in non-purpura setting to see if it does anything or still causes a bruise. I think this will be telling and may indicate if the first provider used the proper settings. It may have been a result of an operator or equipment error. Several doctors on this website say they only do the non-purpura settings and get good results, but this does require an extra treatment or two to get the same results as on purpura treatment so it would be rather costly. Definitely worth it if your skin will be scarred by the purpura setting though. Could you ask for one test spot of the lowest purpura setting and just see how your skin reacts?