Rosacea is a chronic skin condition similar to acne that affects adults; it’s almost incurable but easily manageable. It usually affects the central part of the face – nose and cheeks. Typical symptoms include pimples, tiny red rashes and swollen nose and eyelids, tight, itchy, dry skin that may even give you a burning sensation. Various methods of treatments are being used to cure Rosacea, and one of the non-invasive and successful treatment method is red light therapy for Rosacea.
It’s an unsightly and embarrassing condition, and it can get triggered by stress, alcohol, and spicy food – very bothersome!
This condition is nearly incurable, but you can get relief from it. Various medicines and therapies have emerged over the years to manage this condition, and red light therapy for Rosacea is one of the most effective treatment.
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What is red light therapy use it for rosacea?
Well, it is an alternative to physician-administered laser treatment and involves flashing red light directly at the afflicted area. It is believed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, etc., provide pain relief, make skin look younger, and help manage Rosacea. It has no known adverse side effects.
Red light therapy is also known as photorejuvenation, photonic stimulation, photobiomodulation, low-level laser therapy and so on. It is capable of penetrating the human skin up to a depth of 8 to 10mm. On absorption, the light is converted into cellular energy and it stimulates the body’s natural process, helping to increase blood circulation, lymphatic activity, release more collagen and fibroblasts, quicker cellular clean up, stimulate tissue granulation and reduce inflammation
Does red light therapy help with rosacea
Red light therapy for rosacea comes in different wavelengths – between 620 nm and 700 nm. You need to decide what wavelength you want to use. Typical home use products use a red light of 630-660 nm wavelength. In fact, many devices offer two to three different wavelengths.
You also need to decide whether you want to use a handheld device or tabletop, whether you want a portable one (you may need it if you travel a lot), and so on. If you are suffering from a mild case of rosacea, then a hand-held device will work just fine. If the condition is severe, then you might want to invest in a tabletop one. Again, if you’re a frequent traveler on account of work or holidays, it would make sense also to have a handheld device that you can take with you
You may also want to consider how much customer support is available from the company manufacturing the device. Check how easy or difficult it will be to contact customer support to answer your queries regarding proper usage, light angles, side effects, warranty and so on.
Before we tell you what to buy, here’s a list of what you should avoid:
- Don’t buy disposable devices; a red light device should be a one time purchase
- Battery operated products: it’s a recurring expense, and you will also find its power gradually reducing
- Devices with replaceable parts – replaceable parts will add up the cost; a good device will never need its head to be replaced.
- Products that require an application of topical substances: red light therapy for Rosacea works on its own and does not require any gel, ointment and so on. However, if you’re already using some topical applications for other reasons, do not start using the red light product without consulting a doctor
Benefits of using red light therapy for Rosacea
- It has no known adverse effect
- It is relatively less expensive
- You can administer the treatment in the privacy and comfort of your home
- It is easy and convenient
- Eco-friendly – red light products use LED bulbs which use up very little energy, saving on power consumption
- Durable – products available today use solid state electronics and plastic or metal casing which lasts longer than traditional incandescent bulbs
- The red light enhances blood circulation and stimulates capillary production
- Brings more blood and nutrients to the area
- Reduces appearance of fine red lines
- Stimulates production of collagen, plumping up the skin
- Stimulates elastin production which firms up the skin
- Reduces itchiness and redness
What’s the difference between red light therapy and infrared light therapy?
This is a common confusion, has been raised by many people. You can also find many stores are selling both infrared and red light products for treating Rosacea. We recommend visible red light equipment for the treatment of Rosacea. Infrared wavelength does not have the required power to treat Rosacea. It can not reduce the pain and also there is no clinical evidence to confirm the effectiveness of infrared therapy over red light therapy to treat the cause of Rosacea.
Other treatments
People are always, run after various treatment to have quick relief from Rosacea. It can be combined with other light therapy for quick relief. But remember, red light therapy is the paramount treatment factor for curing Rosacea. There is no harm in combining Amber light therapy and Green light therapy for Rosacea. Both are very effective in soothing the skin, excellent ability to reduce red spots, minimize the visibility of blood vessels and reduce blotches.
It is highly recommended to have some proper skin care practices while the red light treatment is on to get a better and quick result. The skin care practices must be continued even if you are free of Rosacea. Please follow the following skin care practices.
- Hydration: Drink enough water to make sure you have proper hydration
- Avoid food that triggers: Avoid consuming foods that can trigger excess body heat, excess physical activities.
- Skin care lotions: Use mild skin care creams with anti-inflammatory contents.
- Sun protection: Do expose under direct Sunlight more than 10 minutes. If the exposure is inevitable, use sun protection creams.
- Control Stress: Manage stressful situation. Stress can aggravate Rosacea flare ups.
- Sleep: Keep a proper and regular sleeping pattern.
Of course, these are just a few – there are dozens of red light products you can buy online. However you need to check what each product is offering, the price, the warranty, support available, and so on, before you make a final decision. If you’re a chronic sufferer, it makes sense to invest in a quality product. You may spend a few dollars more now, but have peace of mind.
In any event, it would be wise to consult your physician before you actually start taking the red light treatment for Rosacea, to rule out any possible side effects due to pre-existing conditions or medications
What are the best ones to buy.