Candella V-Beam Laser Questions

[dkorreck]

I had a Candella Vbeam laser treatment last Thursday morning. The dermatologist pulsed my upper cheek area and nose. Immediately she handed me the mirror and I almost fainted. I was discolored - dark red bruising. The doc gave me two frozen folded paper towels. Within minutes they were both warm!!!!! I put make up on and went back to work. I was embarassed. This was never told to me only a slight chance of light bruising. She had done it previously a few years back. As the day progressed, my co-workers noticed my cheeks swelling and the undereye area. I went home and iced it three times throughout 3 hours.

The next day I was even more swollen and even darker in the bruised areas. I called her office, it was her day off, so I asked to see her partner. Interestingly enough when I arrived I was immediately rushed back out of the lobby area and my doctor happened to be in. hmmmm DAMAGE CONTROL????

She was very lacksidasical (sp?) about it. Said to put on this ointment, like vaseline. YUCK She prescribed a steriod and sent me home. I went to the health food store and they recommended Emu oil and to keep it moistened at all times. I didn't want any scabbing or it could scar. GREAT I looked like a freak. I had to take a vacation day because I have no sick days.

I stayed in all weekend, icing, and gently placing the oil on my bruised and swollen face. Paged her Sunday but she didn't think she needed to see me. Just be patient she said. Monday morning I went to see her again. She said to just keep up the good work with the oil. I've taken pictures every day.

[dkorreck]

I didn't get to finish before it cut me off.

Yesterday, Tuesday, I returned to work, no makeup because of the severe bruising and the oiliness. A few areas are of concern because they look crusty. I visited her partner today and he was a bit surprised. Said to put the vaseline ointment on since he didn't know about Emu oil. I'm now off the steroids that I was on for 6 days.

Tomorrow will be 8 days. There's no swelling left but still there are very dark purplish areas.

HELP

Deb from Traverse City, Michigan

[CrabbyCathy]

Welcome!

I hope you don't mind I moved your posts to the laser thread, rather than the "how to post" thread. I want someone who can answer your questions to see this !

I'm sorry about what happened to you, especially with having to go to work like that. I think emu oil is gentle and soothing, provided you're not allergic to it.

[NannyBug]

dkorreck,

From your description, that purple you see is called purpura. It's bruises.

Normally the new V-beams will only coagulate the blood within the vessel. The heat from the coagulation is supposed to make the vessel wall also die. In theory everything reabsorbs and shrinks, with less patient discomfort and less redness.

With purpura, which occurs at higher power settings, the blood is coagulated, but also, the vessel wall is burst. The blood leaks out and you get a bruise.

As blood reabsorbs, it gets darker before it gets lighter. Say if you've been punched in the eye. The purple bruise doesn't show initially, but several days later, gets purple, black, red and then reabsorbs over a number of weeks.

I've had 4 V-beams with the Perfecta laser by Candela and my last one was Tuesday, November 17th. I requested purpura because some of my vessels like to regrow instead of reabsorb and shrink. I'd read that regrowth is less common if the vessel wall is burst. She had to set the V-beam at maximum power to get minimal purpura! I'm such a freak. HA! I can't believe I maxed out the V-beam. I should get a free T-shirt! LOL!

In my opinion, purpura is good. It may look bad now, but it should kick your rosacea in the you-know-what.

I've never had major purpura before, and it doesn't sound like mine is a bad as yours. I only got one really red spot. The rest just look like pink 10 mm diameter splotches.

I use Scar Zone Bruise Cream. It contains arnica montana and green tea. It's a pretty nice cream. Doesn't clog pores. It says to use it twice a day while you have a bruise.

For my post-op course, I use lots and lots of cortisone. Aquanil HC every two hours for the first two days and then I taper, only because I tend to swell up. I'm still on it 4 times a day and it's day 3. I mix it with my Metrocream and the bruise cream. Then let it dry. (Takes about 10 minutes) Then put on my mineral makeup.

Also, I take lots of antihistamines. I am allergic to everything, so I have lots of those on-hand.

Also take 600 mg Ibuprofen with 500 mg Acetaminophen twice a day. (They have an additive effect taken together).

This is all post-laser of course. It's all tapered over the first 3 to 4 weeks.