V-Beam Helps Eliminate Facial Redness

By Geeta M. Shah, M.D

Remember back to the days of youth, when having a rosy glow in your cheeks was a sign of good health? As you get older, having those permanently red cheeks may not be so desirable anymore.

Facial redness can be due to various causes. Some people have a genetic tendency to flush, turn red and eventually develop permanent pinkness and enlarged blood vessels which could be due to a condition called rosacea, and in some cases may also be associated with adult acne. However, a large group of people with rosacea have only the “red face” and broken blood vessels. Another cause of redness and broken blood vessels is long-term sun exposure, and in this case, the red may be intermixed with brown spots as well.

Despite the cause of the problem, redness and vessels can be successfully treated with lasers. Pulsed dye lasers (PDL) (such as the V-Beam Perfecta® that is used in our office) and intense pulsed light (IPL) devices are most commonly employed to treat this problem. These devices are very effective, well-tolerated and have virtually no downtime. With each treatment, the vessels will shrink and become less noticeable. Four treatments, spaced about 1 month apart, is usually sufficient, but more or less may be needed depending on the extent of the redness. With a proper skin-care regimen and occasional maintenance treatments, the results are long-lasting.  The PDL is also used to improve the appearance of vascular birthmarks, acne and acne scars, surgical scars and stretch marks. Please schedule a consult to have your redness examined and to determine the best treatment options for you.