Rosacea typically begins as redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. Over time, the redness becomes ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear. Left untreated, bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue. In many rosacea patients, the eyes are also affected, feeling irritated and appearing watery or bloodshot. Once you have rosacea, you usually have it for the rest of your life. Although rosacea can affect all segments of the population, individuals with fair skin who tend to flush or blush easily are believed to be at greatest risk.

Facial redness from rosacea may appear similar to a blush or sunburn, and may be caused by flushing. Flushing may occur with the consumption of alcohol, hot drinks, stress, exercise or even certain foods.

Visible blood vessels called telangiectasia (pronounced "tell-an-jek-tay-zha") may appear on the surface of the skin in some patients. The small blood vessels on the face may grow permanently larger from flushing and eventually show through the skin. These enlarged blood vessels look like thin red lines on the face, usually on the cheeks or nose. These lines may be hidden by facial redness, but become more noticeable when the redness is cleared up. Medications and creams help with the facial redness, but treating the facial blood vessels usually requires treatment with a laser or Intense Pulse Light.

Rosacea sufferers often develop small, red, solid bumps known as papules, and/or pus-filled pimples known as pustules. These bumps and pimples may be inflamed and look similar to teenage acne.

In about half of rosacea patients, the eyes may be irritated and appear watery or bloodshot. In many cases, the eyes may feel as if a foreign object is present or feel "gritty." The eyelids may also become red and swollen, and styes are common. The signs and symptoms of rosacea vary substantially from one patient to another, and treatment must be tailored for each individual case.

Until recently, the facial flushing, redness and facial blood vessels associated with rosacea proved more difficult to treat. This has all change with the development Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL). For men and women, IPL can successfully treat dilated blood vessels and redness without injury to the surrounding skin, while greatly reducing the episodes of flushing with long term effectiveness. Depending on your skin condition you may need about 4-6 treatments, which will provide long-term results.

PDT can be used in combination with Levulan (ALA), Blu-U and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) for the effective treatment of acne rosacea. This procedure improves Acne Rosacea by targeting sebaceous glands, bacteria and dilated blood vessels and redness which are destroyed by the PDT treatment. Whether treating acne rosacea or sun damage, the process is very similar. The solution is applied topically (directly onto the skin) to targeted lesions. A light or laser source is then used to activate the solution ‘Levulan” and the targeted cells are destroyed.

Highly recommended by Physician customized products can be used in conjunction with medical interventions to optimize treatment effects and maintain good results.

Dr. Arora may prescribe medications that are used in conjunction with other treatments to maximize the patient results.

During consultation Dr. Arora will assess each patient and recommend a personalized treatment option including the cost of treatments.