How to treat KPRF, VBeam Perfecta?

[aknuds1]

Hi guys

I suffer from what is most likely KPRF (depending on the doctor I've also been told it's rosacea) in the cheeks, leading to constant diffuse redness and I can also get severe flushing from alcohol or warm weather for instance. I have had many non-bruising VBeam treatments as well as a few IPL and YAG sessions (to reduce flushing). While the treatments may have helped a bit, especially the YAG I suspect, I'm far from cured. Therefore I'm re-thinking my options.

Do you guys have any good advice as to what will typically work for KPRF or diffuse redness/flushing in general, e.g. certain VBeam settings or IPL? I live close to a dermatologist with a VBeam Perfecta laser, so that is definitely the most practical route for me. He hasn't had a great deal of success with me so far unfortunately, but he is supposed to be the most competent VBeam laser specialist in my country (Norway), and it could be due to the conservative settings we've been using. In another thread on this forum, I found a scientific article (KPRF & KPAF responding to PDL 2010.pdf) that describes settings that were found effective on patients with KPRF. According to the findings described in the article, bruising is actually necessary for good results. What do you guys think, do the recommended settings in the article correspond with your experiences?

[Melissa W]

Hi aknuds and welcome to the RF. I don't know anything about KPRF but perhaps you can find some useful info here:
http://www.keratosispilaris.org/kprf...hing-blushing/

Feel free to do a search on the RF as well as I am sure others have posted here about KP.

Best of luck.

Melissa

[arb161]

hi Aknuds
I also don't know much about kprf so I looked at the pictures and I can see why it's really hard to tell the difference. In my experience, everything except vbeam perfecta was useless and a waste of money if your condition is anything above mild. But successful laser treatment is very dependant on the doctor. You might have to step up to more bruising settings but my advise is to do so slowly. It may be more expensive, but safer.
Best of luck
Arlene

[aknuds1]

Thanks guys, thinking I should give the keratosispilaris.org forum a shot since I see they are discussing the efficacy of PDL.

arb161: Do you think there are any particular risks associated with going straight to the (bruising) settings described in the article?

[arb161]

Hi
There is always risk with these lasers. I have the scars to prove it. Again so much depends on the doctor and the machine they are using. Even though it would seem that in living in such a large country and so close to new york city that it should have been easy for me to find one, it was not. Most of the doctors who use them have only trained to do cosmetic procedures using a machine that they've spent thousands of dollars on for everything. Some of them have a financial interest with the laser companies etc. They want to make a quick dollar and not be burdened with a diffiult (in terms of disease) patient. I started with vbeam with a doctor that I liked. The disease went into remission for about a year and then I rebounded. He told me I was laser resistant because he could no longer make me bruise. He admitted though, that he was out of his depth. I tried every other machine and combination of machines until in desperation I went back to vbeam (perfecta) about 18 months ago. I was fortunate to find someone who does a lot of Rosacea patients and hates failure.He has his way of doing things, and started with the upper level of non bruising. He has increased the bruising(it turns out I can bruise) as we've gone along. He's done so without breaking the skin.
Personally I think that bruising works better than non bruising but it is very hard.
You should also know that some people need more treatments than others.
Best of luck
Arlene

[aknuds1]

Hi
There is always risk with these lasers. I have the scars to prove it. Again so much depends on the doctor and the machine they are using. Even though it would seem that in living in such a large country and so close to new york city that it should have been easy for me to find one, it was not. Most of the doctors who use them have only trained to do cosmetic procedures using a machine that they've spent thousands of dollars on for everything. Some of them have a financial interest with the laser companies etc. They want to make a quick dollar and not be burdened with a diffiult (in terms of disease) patient. I started with vbeam with a doctor that I liked. The disease went into remission for about a year and then I rebounded. He told me I was laser resistant because he could no longer make me bruise. He admitted though, that he was out of his depth. I tried every other machine and combination of machines until in desperation I went back to vbeam (perfecta) about 18 months ago. I was fortunate to find someone who does a lot of Rosacea patients and hates failure.He has his way of doing things, and started with the upper level of non bruising. He has increased the bruising(it turns out I can bruise) as we've gone along. He's done so without breaking the skin.
Personally I think that bruising works better than non bruising but it is very hard.
You should also know that some people need more treatments than others.
Best of luck
Arlene

Thanks