What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterised by persistent redness, rashes, swelling, and visible vessels on the face. It is one of the most common long-term skin conditions, affecting about 5.1% of the world. Though it is more common among women, it tends to be more severe among men.
Although experts have not discovered the exact cause of the condition, certain factors are believed to contribute to its onset. These include genetic predisposition, abnormal immune responses, and certain environmental triggers.
In the beginning, people with rosacea often experience a tendency to blush or flush more easily than others. If left untreated, the redness becomes more persistent. The blood vessels beneath the skin surface become more visible, and the skin may begin to react to various triggers.
Although it is not a life-threatening condition, rosacea can significantly impact a person’s self-esteem and quality of life. People with this condition often experience flare-ups, which can be unpredictable, constituting a persistent source of stress. 33% of people with rosacea report feeling excluded by other people.
Symptoms of Rosacea & Traditional Treatment Options
Rosacea affects people differently, leading to different patterns of symptoms from one person to the next. Most people experience the condition in two phases: the flare-up phase, when symptoms manifest; and the remission phase, when the symptoms subside.
The common symptoms of rosacea include:
- Redness:People suffering from rosacea might experience a persistent redness in the face and nose area. This is called erythema, and might occasionally be accompanied by a tingling or burning feeling, and a roughening on the skin.
- Visible Vessels:Thin red lines may appear on the cheeks and noses of people suffering from rosacea.
- Rashes:Areas of redness on the face or nose may develop itchy rashes.
While scientists have not been able to establish the exact cause of rosacea, the following factors are known to trigger or worsen its symptoms:
- Temperature Changes:Hot weather, heated environments, or hot baths can trigger flare-ups.
- Diet:Certain types of food, such as spicy foods or foods high in histamine can also trigger the symptoms of rosacea.
- Medications:Certain medications, such as medications that dilate blood vessels and some blood pressure medicines, can also trigger the symptoms of rosacea.
- Emotional Triggers:Stress, anxiety, and embarrassment can lead to flushing and also worsen symptoms.
- Physical Exertion:Exercise, heavy lifting, or any activity that increases core body temperature can also worsen symptoms.
Traditional Treatment Options for Rosacea
Some traditional treatment options for rosacea include:
- Topical Medications:This involves applying certain medications to specific areas of the body to manage symptoms of rosacea. This includes using metronidazole to reduce inflammation and redness or azelaic to help clear bumps and swelling.
- Oral Medications:Oral antibiotics like doxycycline can help manage severe cases.
- Laser Therapies:Laser therapy can be used to shrink blood vessels in cases of severe and persistent redness.
- Lifestyle Changes:Avoiding triggers such as hot baths and spicy foods can also help prevent flare-ups.
What can Light Therapy do for Rosacea?
In some cases, alternative treatment options may be used instead of or in addition to traditional treatment options for rosacea. Red light therapy, for example, is an effective treatment option, as its anti-inflammatory effects can help reduce the redness of the skin.
Here’s how red light therapy can help:
- Control Inflammation:Light therapy delivers low-level, anti-inflammatory wavelengths of light to the skin, controlling inflammation and reducing skin redness. A handheld red light wand, for example, can emit 660nm and 460nm of light, which is perfect for treating inflammation and redness.
- Smoothen Skin Texture:It also helps enhance skin elasticity and smoothen uneven textures by enhancing collagen production. This is important in cases of breakouts. A wavelength of 850 nm is typically used to promote tissue repair, which can help speed up the healing process of breakouts.
- Accelerates Regeneration of Damaged Nerves:Red light therapy also boosts the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cells, which speeds up the repair of damaged tissues.
- Prevent skin infections:Red light therapy improves microcirculation, which supports skin immunity and reduces the risk of infections for rosacea patients.
Compared to traditional treatment options, red light therapy offers the benefit of being non-invasive. It’s a painless treatment option, with no need for needles or surgical procedures. It can be performed at home, with little or no side effects. It is also cost-effective, as acquiring a red light device, such as a red light wand, is a one-time investment, with no ongoing prescription costs.
Studies on the Benefit of Red Light Therapy
Here are some studies on the benefit of red light therapy:
- A 2020 studyin the National Library of Medicine journal found that coupled blue and red light-emitting diodes therapy are a safe and effective way of treating rosacea in patients.
- Anotherstudy published in Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine found that when used together, water baths and low-dose LED light are very effective for treating chronic inflammation, which is a symptom of rosacea.
How to use the red light therapy device to treat rosacea
Portable red light therapy devices such as the Lifezoom Red Light TherapyWand, are perfect for treating symptoms of rosacea. Here’s how to use it:
- Pattern:To treat symptoms of rosacea, you need a wavelength of between 460 nm and 850 nm. 460 nm is used to treat skin redness and inflammation, while 660nm and 850 nm are used to promote tissue repair. With Lifezoom Red Light Therapy Wand, you can switch between these wavelengths, depending on your needs.
- Duration:To begin with, limit each session with the red light therapy wand to between 3 and 5 minutes. With time, you can work up to 10 minutes per treatment area.
- Frequency:To ensure effeciveness, you can start with one session per day, working up to two sessions with a 12-hour interval with time.
Conclusion
Rosacea is a common skin condition that can cause anxiety and self esteem issues. While it is not curable, its symptoms can be controlled if properly managed. Red light therapy, which offers a non-invasive and effective method for managing rosacea symptoms, is becoming a promising therapy for treating rosacea.
References
- Sorbellini, E., De Padova, M. P., & Rinaldi, F. (2020). Coupled blue and red light-emitting diodes therapy efficacy in patients with rosacea: two case reports. Journal of medical case reports, 14(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-019-2339-6
- Kim, C. H., Cheong, K. A., Lim, W. S., Park, H. M., & Lee, A. Y. (2016). Effects of low-dose light-emitting-diode therapy in combination with water bath for atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine, 32(1), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/phpp.12220
