Will I be able to use laser treatments?
Joined: 20 Jan 2008
Location: Tucson, Arizona USA
| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject: Will I be able to use laser treatments? | |
| I have recently developed an extreme photosensitivity. I get a burning reaction that lasts for days after only seconds of sunlight exposure, and I even burn after exposure to lingering visible light after sunset.
Can anyone speculate as to whether I will be able to use laser therapies i.e. IPL, v-beam, etc. to treat the redness and broken capillaries associated with my rosacea? Thanks |
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Joined: 26 Sep 2005
| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:49 am Post subject: | |
| Well you are living in a difficult place if you are extra sensitive to the sun!
I am one of those lucky people who if they use protection and sunbathe carefully their rosacea improves! As far as IPL is concerned you will need a test patch to be sure, a course of IPL just might help with the sensitivity problem. In my case I have had IPL when my skin has been pretty good, and also when it has ben very sensitive during a flareup, the actual effect of the IPL on my skin was not any worse during the flareup treatment. I have only had small areas with KTP Laser so cannot comment on laser, just ask for a test patch and see what happens. |
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Joined: 28 Aug 2006
| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject: | |
| You should be just fine...the reason I say this with certainty is that IPL is not on the UV light wave...it is in a much different wave....no UV whatsoever....this was a HUGE concern for me 8 yrs ago when I was just starting IPL....my hubby who understands the science of these things explained it all to me (of course I forgot)and he is right....I have done many and no reactions whatsoever. I can't tolerate any sunlight directly beating down on my face....I am much better today and can function outside with suncreen but I would NEVER sunbath and my rosacea would become much much worse again if I ever did again. In fact it was by going into a tanning bed that set it off in the first place....UV light is the cause....go for it....you will be fine!! HTH _________________ Dx 1998 Many IPL TX's Tried just about everything |
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Joined: 18 Apr 2007
| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:46 am Post subject: Photosensitivity and IPL | |
| Hi Smartypants:
I live in the Scottsdale area and I feel your pain! I too have become quite photosensitive. Even sitting in front of this MAC with a filter on the screen causes me to flush. I have trouble in the sun with my eyes too. I've had 12 IPL treatments now and about 14 V Beam laser treatments (a bunch of those were with Dr. Gerald Goldberg there in Tucson on Grant, lovely man. i stopped the V Beams tho because i was overreacting to them and finally just gave up.) I'm seen now by Dr. Soldo in Scottsdale, worth the drive from Tuscon completely if you ever decide to try IPL. I'm not sure if all the laser work has made me more photosensitive, or just plain rosacea and being very pale has done that. No idea. But I am more sensitive than I was a couple of years ago. with my eyes LASIK played a part for sure. But if I wear a good sunblock, and I do every day, not a sunscreen, they retain heat next to the skin and sunblocks (minerals zinc/titanium) reflect heat away from the skin, I do reasonably ok. But in this miserable heat in the summer, I never do very well. Combination of the intense heat and the sun together are awful for me. We're leaving for the summer this year to someplace cool, I pretty much have to and my husband would like to as well. I have problems even when I'm cool, but much much more so when the air is too hot and it's very very sunny. The lasers/IPL (IPL is not a laser) are designed to eliminate the abnormal blood vessels that overreact to various stimuli, so I would think the condition would improve with treatment and proper protection from the sun. If you're interested in V Beam, Dr. Goldberg has a website at www.pimaderm.com. Great guy, 50,000 laser procedures+ under his belt. He also has a VersaPulse (when it's working) that he treats thread veins with and has the older version of v Beam as well as the Perfecta. He does not do IPL. HTH ;o) Bridget |
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