Rosacea is a challenging condition that affects 400 million people worldwide. Often mistaken for a sunburn or rosy skin, rosacea presents with redness, visible blood vessels and tiny red bumps that can be compared to acne and often worsens over time.  Common triggers include:  spicy foods, extreme weather conditions, alcohol, stress and genetics.

Studies have shown that over time the redness tends to become more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear.  Left untreated, inflammatory bumps and pimples often develop. 
In severe cases, the nose may become swollen and bumpy from excess tissue.

In surveys by the National Rosacea Society (NRS), nearly 90 percent of rosacea patients said this condition had lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem, and 41 percent reported it had caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements.  The good news is that well over 70 percent reported medical treatment had improved their emotional and social well-being.

A hemangioma is a type of benign (non-cancerous) tumor in infants.  This abnormal cluster of small blood vessels appears on or under the skin, typically within one to three weeks after birth.  Typically, there is no mark or only a very light birthmark on the skin that brightens in color and increases in size over the baby’s first 2-4 months of life (proliferative phase).

Diffuse redness is general facial redness caused by fine blood vessels (dilated capillaries), resulting in overall redness rather than well-defined vessels. The most commonly affected areas are the nose, forehead, and cheeks.

It is often hereditary, is far more common in lighter skin types and is commonly one of the signs of rosacea.

A Port Wine Stain birthmark (nevus flammeus) is a vascular malformation, involving post-capillary venules that produce a light pink to red-violet discoloration of the skin.  Port Wine Stains occur in approximately 3 out of 1,000 live births. 

Due to the fact that malformations occur on the face, PWS greatly affects the patients psychosocial health.  Studies have shown lower self-esteem and problems with interpersonal relations in PWS patients. 

Studies have also shown that aggressive treatment of infants and young children at earlier ages improves port wine stain clearance.

• Age spots – small, darkened areas on any part of the body that is frequently exposed to the sun, such as: the backs of the hands, arms, shoulders, chest, back and face
• Melasma – appears on the face and arms as large, dark, irregular-shaped areas that often develop during pregnancy due to hormonal changes

• Freckles
• Lentigines (sun spots)
• Moles
• Melasma
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

SPIDER VEINS

Broken blood vessels on the face are enlarged blood vessels that occur just below the surface of the skin.  They are often web-shaped in appearance, hence the name spider veins.  Spider veins are smaller in size, red or blue in color, and most commonly occur on the face and legs.  They may be systemic but are often a result of aging, sun damage or pregnancy.  

Physician’s have been calling the Vascular & Pigmentation Laser a “magic eraser” as it quite literally erases the blood vessel right before your eyes.  In a study published in the Journal Dermatologic Surgery, it was demonstrated that the 532 nm KTP laser system provided faster, more efficient clearing of targeted lesions and improved patient comfort in comparison to the 595 nm pulsed-dye laser. 

* N. Uebelhoer, DO, M. Bogle, MD, B. Stewart, CCRC, K. Arndt, MD & J. Dover, MD, FRCPC, FRCO; A Split-Face Comparison Study of Pulsed 532-nm KTP Laser and 595-nm Pulsed Dye Laser in the Treatment of Facial Telangiectasia and Diffuse Telangiectatic Facial Erythema.  Dermatol.  Sur.,  33:441-448 (2007).

RETICULAR VEINS

Reticular veins are visible veins that appear below your skin.  They don’t usually protrude, but can be unsightly. 

These veins are sized somewhere between spider and varicose veins. They are usually blue or purple, appear on the back of the knees, inner thighs, or near the ankles, and can sometimes cause pain or discomfort in the lower legs.  While reticular veins don’t always cause physical pain, they are often a source of self-consciousness. 

VARICOSE VEINS

Varicose veins are the bulging, rope-like veins that protrude from the skin.  If you have varicose veins, it is best to seek out a vein specialist, as these types of veins are not well treated with vascular lasers such as the Vascular & Pigmentation Laser.

Vascular birthmarks are caused by abnormal growth or formation of blood vessels and cells.  There are two main types of vascular birthmarks:  hemangiomas (strawberry birthmarks) or vascular malformations.  Hemangiomas are caused by overgrowth of the cells providing the lining for vessels in the affected area.