Artist
2nd November 2006, 12:14 AM
Based on this excellent article found by a support group memeber, I'd like to try the yellow LED in addition to my red/near infrared. I emailed acnelamp.com and they said they would make some. Anyone tried the yellow? Any feedback? -Artist
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-support/message/89464
Combining light-based treatments, topicals for rosacea
Aug 1, 2006
By: Louise Gagnon
National report — Light-based treatment, in combination with topical
treatment, is effective in relieving the symptoms of rosacea such as
acne, flushing and redness, one dermatologist says.
"Systemic or topical treatments are clearly efficacious in the
treatment of acne that occurs within the setting of rosacea, but do
little for the redness or flushing," says David Goldberg, M.D.,
director of Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of New York and New
Jersey and a clinical professor of dermatology and director of laser
research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
"Conversely, laser and laser light technology are highly effective in
the treatment of rosacea-induced redness and flushing, but don't work
well for the acne component of the condition. Nothing says you can't
combine standard treatment — that is, topical — with light-based
treatment," he says.
Patients who seek treatment from Dr. Goldberg generally have not found
relief with medications exclusively, and are seeking alternatives for
their symptoms, he says. Dr. Goldberg typically offers light sources,
such as intense pulsed light (IPL) and light-emitting diode (LED)
devices, to optimize outcome.
The advantage of a therapy like IPL is that it decreases erythema and
decreases the number of vessels in the skin and, therefore, the
flushing of the skin. The IPL is frequently combined with LED
treatments of various colors that have unique properties.
Technology differences
"Each technology does something a little different," Dr. Goldberg
says. "The yellow LED and IPL both lessen redness, so they work in
synergy. We will often combine the yellow LED with red LED, the latter
of which works well on the inflammation of the condition."
The LED devices do not cause pain and are not thermal, in contrast to
laser technologies, according to Dr. Goldberg.
"There is no risk such as scarring when using LED devices," Dr.
Goldberg says. "They can also work on any skin type, including ethnic
skin. You have to be more careful in using laser and laser-like
technologies because of their thermal effect."
Because lasers target melanin and there is greater melanin present in
darker-skinned individuals, light absorption via the laser is
inhibited, Dr. Goldberg explains. In contrast, the use of LED
treatments for rosacea is an option for all patients.
If a treatment such as metronidazole formulation is applied, and
inflammation arises, an LED device can treat the inflammation. In
addition, the use of LED minimizes the amount of topical metronidazole
that needs to be applied to the skin.
"Some topical treatments are effective and very commonly used, but
potentially very irritating," Dr. Goldberg says.
Antibiotics
If patients have severe rosacea, characterized by acne and
inflammation, clinicians may prescribe antibiotics, such as
minocycline administered orally; a topical agent; and light-based
treatment.
"The symptoms vary, so the treatments vary," Dr. Goldberg says. "You
might have the patient on antibiotics for a month or two, but the goal
would be to get them off antibiotics. If the patient, for instance,
were planning to get pregnant, being on antibiotics would be an issue.
It would be preferable to use topical treatment and IPL/LED. They can
have that treatment throughout pregnancy."
For middle-aged men who have rosacea and dilated blood vessels,
typically on the sides of their nose, IPL is not effective to treat
their larger blood vessels, so other light devices are necessary.
"In that instance, we would use a KTP (potassium-titanyl-phosphate) or
Nd:YAG (neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet) laser, allowing us to
selectively target the dilated blood vessels and make them smaller,"
Dr. Goldberg says.
The most severe form of rosacea is rare, but features a bulbous nose,
and is treated with a more aggressive laser, Dr. Goldberg notes.
"They have what is referred to as a Jimmy Durante nose," Dr. Goldberg
says. "It occurs in older men. That will not respond to any oral or
topical medication. This problem has to be treated with an ablative
laser such as an erbium or carbon dioxide (CO2) laser."
Patients should reduce the triggers that dilate blood vessels and
cause skin flushing such as alcohol, spicy foods and sun exposure, Dr.
Goldberg advises.
"Cutting back on those triggers will lessen the symptoms," he says.
"It's a matter of moderation."
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-support/message/89464
Combining light-based treatments, topicals for rosacea
Aug 1, 2006
By: Louise Gagnon
National report — Light-based treatment, in combination with topical
treatment, is effective in relieving the symptoms of rosacea such as
acne, flushing and redness, one dermatologist says.
"Systemic or topical treatments are clearly efficacious in the
treatment of acne that occurs within the setting of rosacea, but do
little for the redness or flushing," says David Goldberg, M.D.,
director of Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of New York and New
Jersey and a clinical professor of dermatology and director of laser
research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
"Conversely, laser and laser light technology are highly effective in
the treatment of rosacea-induced redness and flushing, but don't work
well for the acne component of the condition. Nothing says you can't
combine standard treatment — that is, topical — with light-based
treatment," he says.
Patients who seek treatment from Dr. Goldberg generally have not found
relief with medications exclusively, and are seeking alternatives for
their symptoms, he says. Dr. Goldberg typically offers light sources,
such as intense pulsed light (IPL) and light-emitting diode (LED)
devices, to optimize outcome.
The advantage of a therapy like IPL is that it decreases erythema and
decreases the number of vessels in the skin and, therefore, the
flushing of the skin. The IPL is frequently combined with LED
treatments of various colors that have unique properties.
Technology differences
"Each technology does something a little different," Dr. Goldberg
says. "The yellow LED and IPL both lessen redness, so they work in
synergy. We will often combine the yellow LED with red LED, the latter
of which works well on the inflammation of the condition."
The LED devices do not cause pain and are not thermal, in contrast to
laser technologies, according to Dr. Goldberg.
"There is no risk such as scarring when using LED devices," Dr.
Goldberg says. "They can also work on any skin type, including ethnic
skin. You have to be more careful in using laser and laser-like
technologies because of their thermal effect."
Because lasers target melanin and there is greater melanin present in
darker-skinned individuals, light absorption via the laser is
inhibited, Dr. Goldberg explains. In contrast, the use of LED
treatments for rosacea is an option for all patients.
If a treatment such as metronidazole formulation is applied, and
inflammation arises, an LED device can treat the inflammation. In
addition, the use of LED minimizes the amount of topical metronidazole
that needs to be applied to the skin.
"Some topical treatments are effective and very commonly used, but
potentially very irritating," Dr. Goldberg says.
Antibiotics
If patients have severe rosacea, characterized by acne and
inflammation, clinicians may prescribe antibiotics, such as
minocycline administered orally; a topical agent; and light-based
treatment.
"The symptoms vary, so the treatments vary," Dr. Goldberg says. "You
might have the patient on antibiotics for a month or two, but the goal
would be to get them off antibiotics. If the patient, for instance,
were planning to get pregnant, being on antibiotics would be an issue.
It would be preferable to use topical treatment and IPL/LED. They can
have that treatment throughout pregnancy."
For middle-aged men who have rosacea and dilated blood vessels,
typically on the sides of their nose, IPL is not effective to treat
their larger blood vessels, so other light devices are necessary.
"In that instance, we would use a KTP (potassium-titanyl-phosphate) or
Nd:YAG (neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet) laser, allowing us to
selectively target the dilated blood vessels and make them smaller,"
Dr. Goldberg says.
The most severe form of rosacea is rare, but features a bulbous nose,
and is treated with a more aggressive laser, Dr. Goldberg notes.
"They have what is referred to as a Jimmy Durante nose," Dr. Goldberg
says. "It occurs in older men. That will not respond to any oral or
topical medication. This problem has to be treated with an ablative
laser such as an erbium or carbon dioxide (CO2) laser."
Patients should reduce the triggers that dilate blood vessels and
cause skin flushing such as alcohol, spicy foods and sun exposure, Dr.
Goldberg advises.
"Cutting back on those triggers will lessen the symptoms," he says.
"It's a matter of moderation."