This 2007 paper confirms another study which was published in the same journal in 2003, titled Objective and Quantitative Improvement of Rosacea-Associated Erythema After Intense Pulsed Light Treatment. The 2003 paper had the bold conclusion “As demonstrated by truly objective and quantitative means, intense pulsed light is effective for reducing rosacea-associated blood flow, telangiectasia, and erythema.“. A doppler radar was used in the 2003 study, this 2007 study has used a spectrophotometer to further prove that IPL is particularly good for the red face and broken blood vessels of rosacea.
Objective Evaluation of the Effect of Intense Pulsed Light on Rosacea and Solar Lentigines by Spectrophotometric Analysis of Skin Color. Dermatol Surg. 2007 Apr;33(4):449-454, Kawana S, Ochiai H, Tachihara R.
BACKGROUND: To date, intense pulsed light (IPL) has been applied to various skin diseases, but there have been few objective evaluations of its efficacy.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform objective evaluations of the effect of the IPL system on rosacea and solar lentigines.
METHODS: Twelve patients with rosacea were treated with IPL at the wavelength of 550 to 670 nm, three times every 4 weeks, and the skin color was determined with L(*)a(*)b(*) color space using a spectrophotometer. In addition, 18 patients with solar lentigines were treated once, and the lightness L(*) was determined.
RESULTS: In all of 6 erythematotelangiectatic rosacea patients and in 5 of 6 papulopustular rosacea patients, each of the L(*)a(*)b(*) values of the posttreated lesions approached those of normal skin areas (efficacy rate, 91.6%). The mean level of the L(*)a(*)b(*) values improved significantly after treatment and particularly in the erythematotelangiectatic rosacea patients. In 12 of 18 patients with solar lentigines, the lightness L(*) was elevated after treatment (efficacy rate, 66.6%).
CONCLUSION: As demonstrated by spectrophotometric analysis of skin color, IPL at the wavelength of 550 to 670 nm is effective for rosacea and solar lentigines, particularly most useful for erythematotelangiectatic rosacea
Further Reading ;
hey, can anyone recommend somewhere for ipl treatment in london? reasonable prices too. i have a red bumpy nose… thank you jason
Be careful with IPL. I went to a clinic in London, had six treatments for £1000. Result was slight improvement to papules on one side of face, no improvement anywhere else and my previously normal nose has been inflamed and is now red. I had these treatments over four months last autumn. If you are determined to go down this route do not follow my example. Go to a doctor and only have IPL performed by a doc, not by an assistant, also get a test patch not on face fir the first visit. IPL hurts like crazy and I had six 30min sessions. I only put up with the pain because I thought it would reduce the condition, remove a few broken blood vessels. Do not think it is a quick win. See a derm, look at your diet, cut hard on dairy and alcohol to start with. Good luck.
I was told by an NHS dermatologist to sit with cold wet flannels to my face or have laser treatment. Stupid ,stupid man, I live in the rural north and would have to travel miles to to the city in the adjoining county city, making it a very costly business indeed and the thought of travelling so many miles as a person with various disabilities was to say the least very daunting. At so me point I will have to go as this face of mine stops me watching TV use a boiler phone and this tablet for a very limited time before turning near purple and the pain is horrendous. I also have ocular rosacea so life is one big merry-go-round. As my rosacea was originally medically induced through no fault of my own I feel as though I have no trust in the medical profession at all. My life is very limited now and I feel like ending it all. Good luck to everyone else who is fighting this fight
I always wondered how the medical profession can induce rosacea?
Hemroid cream, but don’t get in eyes and don’t use on face after use elsewhere. Use fresh tube on face only and on bags under eyes. At first face may look a bit blotchy and may appear redder but only for the first 2 nights. After that I noticed the broken blood vessels had been shrinking and the redness was diminishing.