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Rosacea treatment: Can light therapy reduce symptoms?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rosacea-treatment/AN02072
- With Mayo Clinic dermatologist
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Dr. Lawrence Gibson likens bad health information on the Internet to food poisoning.
Consumers, he says, need to be aware and will find reliable information at MayoClinic.com.
Dr. Gibson, a Covington, Ky., native, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1986 and is board certified in dermatology, dermatopathology and immunodermatology. He is a professor of dermatology at Mayo Medical School and a consultant in the Department of Dermatology.
Dr. Gibson has served as the fellowship director for dermatopathology and as chair of the Laboratory Division in the Department of Dermatology. He is especially interested in inflammatory disorders of the skin, including vasculitis, and in lymphoma affecting the skin.
"Electronic information has become a staple in the diet of a health conscious society," he says. "It's important to avoid misinformation and provide a credible source for health information. Using this analogy, it's critical to avoid 'indigestion' or, worse yet, 'food poisoning' by the ingestion of tainted information."
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Question
Rosacea treatment: Can light therapy reduce symptoms?
My facial redness doesn't seem to improve with rosacea medications. Is light therapy a better rosacea treatment?
Answer
from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Intense pulsed light therapy, which uses high-intensity pulses of light to reach the deeper layers of skin, may help treat symptoms of rosacea. Studies show that light therapy may reduce the appearance of:
- Facial redness
- Flushing
- Telangiectasia — visible small blood vessels on the nose and cheeks
Light therapy, which involves multiple sessions over the course of several weeks, may be most beneficial if your symptoms don't improve with traditional rosacea treatment, such as prescription medications. Side effects are usually minimal, but they can include temporary redness and bruising.
Though early studies show benefits, more research is needed to determine how long the light therapy treatments are effective for rosacea and what the long-term risks might be. If you experience persistent rosacea, talk to your doctor to see if light therapy is a rosacea treatment option for you.
- Maier LE. Management of rosacea. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Sept. 11, 2012.
- Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0986-5..C2009-0-38984-9--TOP&isbn=978-1-4377-0986-5&about=true&uniqId=236797353-5. Accessed Sept. 11, 2012.
- Nelson AA, et al. Principles and practice of cutaneous laser and light therapy. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2011;38:427.
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