Ask Raye About Rosacea!

Raye Toscano, L.E answers your questions about . . .

Rosacea

Q:  I have red flushing mainly on my nose and cheeks and it seems to be getting worse.  What could this be?

A:  You may have a condition called Rosacea that affects the skin of the face. The first sign of Rosacea is persistent redness of the face, particularly the cheeks and the nose. This redness is caused by enlarged blood vessels under the skin. The redness can become more noticeable and more permanent. The skin may also become very dry. The exact cause of Rosacea is unknown; it seems likely that there is no single cause and that it develops in individuals due to a variety of factors such as heredity, skin color, skin structure, etc. There has even been a proposed but yet unproven theory that suggests that the irritation may be caused by a microscopic skin mite.

Q: Is there some sort of cure for this condition?

A:  There is no “cure” for this Rosacea, but there are many different options out there that help to manage and control the severity of this condition.

Q: What can I do about it?

A: There are some simple things that you can try first, such as avoiding hot liquids, spicy foods or alcohol. Also exposure to extremes of heat and cold, exposure to the sun and stress can aggravate Rosacea. You should also avoid using rough wash cloths and facial scrubs, as these things can irritate your skin. Opt for gentle skin care products such as our RevaléSkin cosmeceutical skin care line that has been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of Rosacea. Extremely hot showers, baths, and hot tubs can cause your Rosacea to flare up as well. There are also prescription topical gels and creams and oral medications that are commonly used for this condition.

Q:  I really don’t want to go the medications or creams route, is there anything else I could do?

A:  Yes!  It is called IPL or Intense Pulsed Light treatment.  The IPL machine uses extremely bright quick bursts of light that target the red in the enlarged blood vessels and evaporates them.  Some larger capillaries may turn very dark and will vanish over a short period of time. The amazing thing with IPL is that there is little or no downtime, the treatments are very affordable, and there is a side benefit of skin tightening. The Quantum IPL by Lumenis that we have at Red Bamboo Medi Spa is the best IPL on the market. The treatments are quick, easy and affordable.

Q: Great!  What do I do next?

A: Call us at 727-726-6100 to schedule your complimentary consultation and to see our very own “before and after” photos of some extremely pleased patients!