Facial Redness or Rosacea Treatments in Tunbridge Wells

Facial redness is often associated with rosacea, which can occur as a result of ageing, prolonged sun exposure, pregnancy, hormonal imbalance and heredity. Rosacea is a common rash, usually occurring on the face & neck, predominantly affecting fair skinned middle-aged people.

Signs and symptoms of Rosacea may include:

Facial Redness.Rosacea usually causes a persistent redness in the cheeks, nose and chin. Small blood vessels on your face often swell and become more visible.
Red Spots.Many people who have rosacea can develop inflamed red spots, containing pus. The skin may feel hot and tender.
Eye problems.Some people who have rosacea also experience eye dryness with irritated and swollen eyelids.
Enlarged nose (Rhinophyma). Occasionally, rosacea can thicken the skin on the nose, causing the nose to appear bulbous. This occurs more often in men than in women.

If you experience persistent redness of your face, it is important to see our Speciality Doctor in Dermatology or our Consultant Dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment for the following reasons:

Treating rosacea early can stop it from getting worse. Rosacea can be more difficult to treat.
Rosacea tends to worsen over time. Controlling rosacea means that you will not see or feel the symptoms such as redness, burning and itching.
Different types of rosacea require different treatments.
A combination of prescription topical and oral medications with laser treatments will be specially tailored to your type of rosacea. Treatments available without a prescription could worsen the condition.
Some patients with rosacea, could develop Rhinophyma – thickening of the skin on the nose. Our Consultant Dermatologist will discuss various treatments available. CO2 laser resurfacing is available to remove any excess tissue and remodel the nose.

Treatments available:

There are numerous treatment options and preventative measures (especially in the form of lifestyle changes) for rosacea and facial redness. These options include: topical creams and ointments, prescription medication, Lasers, IPL and aftercare.

1. Topical applications of ointments and creams can control the inflammation of mild to moderate Rosacea .These include Metronidazole and Azelaic acid.
2. Oral antibiotics are helpful for the control of the inflammation of moderate or severe rosacea.
3. Laser & IPL treatments: Laser can effectively reduce extensive redness and skin inflammation; correct any nose disfigurement and eradicate visible blood vessels. Your personal treatment plan will depend on the severity of the condition and could require several different treatments.
4. LED Light treatment is well known for its healing and calming properties. Ideal for mild rosacea or can be used in combination with other rosacea treatments.
5. Aftercare:

Protect your skin from the sun by using daily broad spectrum (UVB & UVA) sunblock.
Be gentle with your skin and avoid rubbing your face as this can make rosacea worse.
Do not use perfumed facial cleansers and moisturisers as this can make rosacea worse. A gentle skincare routine can be invaluable in helping to control rosacea. We advise the use of Obagi products and Cetaphil.
Avoid oil based products and makeup. Oil retains heat in the skin and can contribute to a flare up. Instead use mineral based makeup and oil free products.
Avoid hot treatments such as saunas, steam rooms and sun bathing
Avoid hot and spicy foods, alcohol, cola, caffeine and hot soups
Avoid heavy meals as these will cause flushing as the body tries to digest a large meal. Instead, eat regular small meals.
Be conscious of your stress and fatigue levels as this can aggravate rosacea.
Do not smoke.
Do gentle exercise instead of vigorous exercise.
Do not use topical creams containing corticosteroids, unless specifically recommended by your doctor, as these may make rosacea worse in the long run.
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What can I expect from the consultation?

Every case is different, so we would recommend that you book an initial consultation with our Doctor. The severity of your skin condition can then be assessed and your treatment options can be discussed with you in detail.

This may include prescription medication, IPL either alone or in combination with Nd: YAG Laser and LED light treatment to encourage healing.  Laser or IPL treatment could make a significant difference to the redness of your skin. If you wish to go ahead with the treatments, our Doctor will book you in for the skin test patch which can usually be carried out immediately after your consultation.

You will be advised on your maintenance treatments and how to use skincare products with anti-inflammatory ingredients. We also offer a wide range of medical cosmeceutical products for your aftercare use. These products have helped many patients with this skin condition regain confidence.

What does the Laser treatment involve?

Laser produces narrow beams of light absorbed by visible blood vessels in the skin. The heat from the lasers damages the dilated veins and causes them to shrink so they are no longer visible, with minimal damage to the surrounding skin. This damage encourages the body to reabsorb the blood improving and fading the appearance of the veins. There is a feeling of heat during the treatment and your face will be more red and blotchy for a short time afterwards. Cooling packs can be applied to help combat this. A course of four to six treatments at three to four week intervals produces the best outcome. Simultaneously laser light energy warms the collagen fibres in the skin stimulating new collagen and collagen remodelling. This improves the support of the small blood vessels and helps to delay the development of more thread veins. Improvement may continue for many weeks after the course has finished. Rosacea is a chronic skin condition and, although this treatment improves the appearance of the skin, it does not cure rosacea. If you have active inflammatory rosacea then this will need to be controlled with medication before you can have laser treatment.

All laser procedures will require a test patch a minimum of 24 hours prior to treatment. This is a standard requirement for safety and insurance purposes.