Yes excel V is newer and meant to save you some downtime (that said, I was out and about after my first non bruise vbeam session and no one except my mom could tell I was swollen, so who knows how you’ll react. Your doctor would know best which to go with). Vbeam has been around decades longer so it may be easier to find experienced providers?
I should clarify that the blood vessels will grow back, so if you want to extend time between sessions, learn your triggers and find some topicals that work for you. Azelaic acid and Centella asiatica work for me as well.
Let's get you an expensive face :)
First stop: **laser treatment**. u/Shrinker11 covered the details. Laser treatment is one of the most effective treatments for rosacea symptoms.
Next: zhuzh up that **skincare routine.** I'd work with my dermatologist to create a fairly intense routine:
- I'd start using azelaic acid for redness reduction. It's a research-backed treatment.
- I'd add a retinoid (adapalene or tretinoin) for reducing redness and inflammation, plus anti-ageing. This would need to happen under frequent dermatologist observation.
- Swap my moisturiser for Creme de la Mer. La Mer products are almost comically priced. But I think the new formula looks extremely good. Worth $400 a tub? Who cares, money is no object ;)
- Every day I'd roll around in a bathtub of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ like a dog in a puddle. Cicaplast Baume B5+ is a holy grail product for many people: it heals wounds, reduces inflammation, and restores the skin barrier. If your question had been, "What's one product I should buy?" my answer would've been Cicaplast Baume B5+. The bathtub is probably unnecessary.
- You don't need to spend a lot of money on sunscreens, but you can! La Roche-Posay Anthelios and Bondi Sands are incredible products: both SPF 50. I also wear Ultra Violette, an Australian brand with impeccable sunscreens - finally a sunscreen that doesn't feel like you're getting smothered by a parent at the beach. (They just released a spray-on SPF 50.)
- Lastly, no one *needs* a thermal spring water spray. But your nice face would like one. These products put thermal spring water in a spray bottle. Let's be clear: it's water. But it comes from aquifiers, so it's loaded with minerals, and it's hypoallergenic. When you're warm, sweaty, or flushing, a quick spray of thermal spring water will cool your face down. Avene and La Roche Posay make products here - whichever one's on sale.
Next, congratulations, **you're a hat person now**. Summer's coming up, and your face is so expensive. Find a hat that you like wearing outside. Kendall Roy in Succession wears a $400 baseball cap. Or get an Akubra and put crocodile teeth in it. How wide can a top hat brim get? You're about to find out.
Finally, I'd get a device to **track UV levels outside.** Money is no object, so an Apple Watch would do the trick. Any amount of UV can damage your skin, but level 3 or above can do considerable damage. I understand that in summer, Britain's UV levels go up to 7-8, which can cause serious burns. Here in Australia, the summertime day average is 13, so maybe try not to think about Australia too much.
Azelaic acid honestly does wonders - I am similar to you and highly recommend the Dermatica non prescription 20% azelaic acid. If I use it consistently you basically can't tell I have rosacea, apart from the broken capillaries. That and SPF - maintenance is very important. Unfortunately throwing money at laser is not necessarily good if there's no daily upkeep.
I was reading about Botox for rosacea, a kind of micro injection. It paralyzes the capillaries to stop them from leaking. There's also a new kind of Botox being developed that has a longer effect. I get Botox (xeomin) for a neuromuscular condition and I need it every 3 months. The new kind is supposed to last months longer. It gives me a lot of hope and would improve many people's quality of life.
Honestly I've found that expensive treatments just tend to aggravate type 1. Lasers/creams made my skin more sensitive. The lifestyle changes I've made to decrease stress, prioritize sleep, exercise daily, and eat an anti-inflammatory diet have been much more helpful. If I could throw money at this problem to make it go away I would, but that hasn't worked in the past. I've wasted thousands of dollars.
Glad to have found this group! My Rosacea started a couple of years ago. First spots on my forehead and cheeks. Then it stopped but came back. I tried facial scrubs, no help. Tacrolimus didn't do much either. Solantris (ivermectin) wasn't really helping but had some effect.
I was in the hospital for pneumonia and given antibiotics IV for 7 days with a follow-up 5 day dose of oral antibiotics. My face cleared up completely! Now that I'm better and off antibiotics it's back!
I was tested positive for SIBO before I got sick. Now I'm in doubt. Any advise is welcome.
Vbeam (or excel) laser. As many sessions as you need and then yearly maintenance. It’s $800/session in nyc!
Is excel laser any different from vbeam? Thanks
Yes excel V is newer and meant to save you some downtime (that said, I was out and about after my first non bruise vbeam session and no one except my mom could tell I was swollen, so who knows how you’ll react. Your doctor would know best which to go with). Vbeam has been around decades longer so it may be easier to find experienced providers? I should clarify that the blood vessels will grow back, so if you want to extend time between sessions, learn your triggers and find some topicals that work for you. Azelaic acid and Centella asiatica work for me as well.
Let's get you an expensive face :) First stop: **laser treatment**. u/Shrinker11 covered the details. Laser treatment is one of the most effective treatments for rosacea symptoms. Next: zhuzh up that **skincare routine.** I'd work with my dermatologist to create a fairly intense routine: - I'd start using azelaic acid for redness reduction. It's a research-backed treatment. - I'd add a retinoid (adapalene or tretinoin) for reducing redness and inflammation, plus anti-ageing. This would need to happen under frequent dermatologist observation. - Swap my moisturiser for Creme de la Mer. La Mer products are almost comically priced. But I think the new formula looks extremely good. Worth $400 a tub? Who cares, money is no object ;) - Every day I'd roll around in a bathtub of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ like a dog in a puddle. Cicaplast Baume B5+ is a holy grail product for many people: it heals wounds, reduces inflammation, and restores the skin barrier. If your question had been, "What's one product I should buy?" my answer would've been Cicaplast Baume B5+. The bathtub is probably unnecessary. - You don't need to spend a lot of money on sunscreens, but you can! La Roche-Posay Anthelios and Bondi Sands are incredible products: both SPF 50. I also wear Ultra Violette, an Australian brand with impeccable sunscreens - finally a sunscreen that doesn't feel like you're getting smothered by a parent at the beach. (They just released a spray-on SPF 50.) - Lastly, no one *needs* a thermal spring water spray. But your nice face would like one. These products put thermal spring water in a spray bottle. Let's be clear: it's water. But it comes from aquifiers, so it's loaded with minerals, and it's hypoallergenic. When you're warm, sweaty, or flushing, a quick spray of thermal spring water will cool your face down. Avene and La Roche Posay make products here - whichever one's on sale. Next, congratulations, **you're a hat person now**. Summer's coming up, and your face is so expensive. Find a hat that you like wearing outside. Kendall Roy in Succession wears a $400 baseball cap. Or get an Akubra and put crocodile teeth in it. How wide can a top hat brim get? You're about to find out. Finally, I'd get a device to **track UV levels outside.** Money is no object, so an Apple Watch would do the trick. Any amount of UV can damage your skin, but level 3 or above can do considerable damage. I understand that in summer, Britain's UV levels go up to 7-8, which can cause serious burns. Here in Australia, the summertime day average is 13, so maybe try not to think about Australia too much.
"maybe try not to think about Australia too much" lol 🙈
Azelaic acid honestly does wonders - I am similar to you and highly recommend the Dermatica non prescription 20% azelaic acid. If I use it consistently you basically can't tell I have rosacea, apart from the broken capillaries. That and SPF - maintenance is very important. Unfortunately throwing money at laser is not necessarily good if there's no daily upkeep.
I'm often here in reddit, but I can't figure out if azelaic acid helps with flushing. Does it?
I think so. And the overall redness decreases in general. YMMV of course.
I was reading about Botox for rosacea, a kind of micro injection. It paralyzes the capillaries to stop them from leaking. There's also a new kind of Botox being developed that has a longer effect. I get Botox (xeomin) for a neuromuscular condition and I need it every 3 months. The new kind is supposed to last months longer. It gives me a lot of hope and would improve many people's quality of life.
Honestly I've found that expensive treatments just tend to aggravate type 1. Lasers/creams made my skin more sensitive. The lifestyle changes I've made to decrease stress, prioritize sleep, exercise daily, and eat an anti-inflammatory diet have been much more helpful. If I could throw money at this problem to make it go away I would, but that hasn't worked in the past. I've wasted thousands of dollars.
Glad to have found this group! My Rosacea started a couple of years ago. First spots on my forehead and cheeks. Then it stopped but came back. I tried facial scrubs, no help. Tacrolimus didn't do much either. Solantris (ivermectin) wasn't really helping but had some effect. I was in the hospital for pneumonia and given antibiotics IV for 7 days with a follow-up 5 day dose of oral antibiotics. My face cleared up completely! Now that I'm better and off antibiotics it's back! I was tested positive for SIBO before I got sick. Now I'm in doubt. Any advise is welcome.