For those of you who saw my skincare routine video, you’ll know I struggle with rosacea. Rosacea is a skin condition that is characterized by frequent flushing or blushing and a generally bright red appearance to the skin on the face. My rosacea is only on my cheeks and chin, and I have had it for as long as I can remember. I struggled with acne as a teenager and it definitely left some scarring, but I have also always had big red patches on my face from the rosacea that get worse with spicy food, sun exposure, exercise and drinking alcohol.
While I have tried different products and creams to calm the redness on my face, it is very persistent. Through my research on rosacea treatments I eventually found IPL which is Intense Pulsed Light photorejuvination- a type of laser therapy. IPL photo rejuvenation can be used to treat sun spots, redness, rosacea, broken capillaries, acne, acne scaring, fine lines and wrinkles.
I found a local clinic here in Halifax called Cresthaven Laser (check out their site here) that does IPL and decided to give it a try. Since I have been open about my struggle with rosacea, I thought I would document my IPL treatment so you can see my experience and see how my skin progresses/if it works for me. So far I have had 2 treatments and have 4 more to go. The treatments are typically 1 to 2 weeks apart so in total mine will run about 6 to 8 weeks total.
Each session only lasts about 15 minutes (with the actual laser part only taking about 5 minutes). Jennalee at Cresthaven Laser does my IPL treatments and she is amazing. I’ll give you an idea of what the procedure is like, and then show you before and after photos of my first two treatments.
First, she removes my makeup and puts a towel-headband around my hair to keep it off my face. Then, she applies a gel (that is similar to the gel used in ultrasounds) to the places where the laser will be used. Then, you get to wear some cotton pads and special eye glasses to protect your eyes from the intense light. After that, she uses the laser on the rosacea-affected areas. I know a lot of people will wonder if it hurts, so I’ll do my best to explain what it feels like. I have a very low pain tolerance generally. I’m terrible with needles and avoid anything that might cause me physical pain. The feeling of the laser is definitely uncomfortable, but it is tolerable. It is described as “snapping elastic against your skin”. The sensation is very quick and localized and only lasts about a second with each pulse.
My face (which gets red even just by putting water on it) always gets really red after the laser. The first time was the worst, with the redness being the brightest and lasting the longest. However, after my second treatment I noticed the redness from the heat and light was significantly reduced and went away faster too. Typically I notice a difference in my skin a few hours after the treatment, after the initial redness from the treatment has subsided.
Here is a before photo of my bare skin before starting IPL photorejuvination. I look a bit funny because I only have makeup around my eyes, but try to ignore that haha.
Here are some photos of during the procedure and then the redness directly afterwards. Spot my cool glasses ;).
This photo directly above is how red my face gets right after the procedure. After this she puts on some soothing balms and also does a little massage that gets the blood flowing. Then she applies a serum and sunscreen. Avoiding sun exposure for the duration of the treatments is essential, so if you go outdoors, make sure to wear sunscreen, a hat and stay in the shade as much as possible.
Here is a photo of 1 hour after the treatment. The redness goes down quite a bit even in that first hour.
And here is a photo of a few hours after the treatment. As you can see, the redness subsided A LOT, especially on my chin and the sides of my cheeks.
EDIT: JUNE 6, 2019
It’s been a few months since I finished all my treatments so I wanted to do an update! I made a video all about my experience (and included a before and after photo) so I will link that here for your viewing pleasure.
Recently I did a campaign for Rosacea Awareness Month where I shared a no makeup selfie and encouraged other to do the same. It was only a little bit scary, because I still typically don’t go bare faced on Instagram. But it was also empowering.
My skin is far from blotchy and dark red like it used to be. It’s more of an overall pink flush, with my cheeks sometimes getting red/hot if I have alcohol or spicy food. overall the feeling of my skin is MUCH more even in temperature (instead of my cheeks always feeling SUPER hot). I also notice that when I work out my skin doesn’t feel so hot and irritated, which is amazing. Overall I recommend IPL treatments to anyone who is a candidate for it! It made me much more comfortable in my skin (literally) because the hot and flushed feeling is mostly gone, and it also made wearing makeup MUCH more enjoyable. I even switched to a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation and have been loving it. It allows my natural skin to show through a bit, but still provides a bit of coverage and protection, which makes me more confident in public (see next photo).
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below. I hope this was helpful!
You never updated this series! I’m dying to know how the IPL went? Please update us!!
(fellow rosacea sufferer)
I have a video coming out on my second channel called Liv B Lifestyle soon! It’s a final update now that I am done all my treatments 🙂 ♡
How many weeks apart were the treatments??
Approx each month!
I have heard from a friend about this device and it is best treatment for rosacea. I will definitely recommend it. Thanks and keep sharing.
Hi, did your fave swell at all or go very puffy?
nope!
It’s 2021 and I’m finding your post! Thank you for doing this. It just helps people feel less alone! You’re amazing! -fellow sufferer
Hey Liv!
I am also a fellow roscea sufferer as I have been suffering from it over a year and was recently diagnosed. I’ve tried all the topical ointments, oral antibiotics, and so forth. Ultimately they are not eliminating the problem and so my dermatologist said I could go ahead and move forward with laser treatment. She is recommending IPL. I was wondering how many treatments you had total and how much the price was? I know this is out-of-pocket but am willing to do it as it is causing me severe self-esteem and adding to my depression issues. Also, my roseca is only mild and really only on one side of my face so I am hoping the treatment is a little less expensive. It is the redness kind, like you had. And My derm wants me to continue my skin care treatment for about another 2 months before my first session. This includes the rhofade cream that is newer on the market. Did you ever get to try it? Would you be willing to upload a picture of what your face looks like after the completed treatments of IPL?
Hi! I went to a private clinic (a laser clinic, not a dermatologist) so I have no idea how the pricing would compare! I loooove how the IPL worked on my skin. It definitely expensive but I don’t remember exactly how much because I also was getting hair removal at the same time. The price also depends on how many treatments you get. I went every few weeks for about 6 months I believe, but the place I went to offers discount packages if you buy 5 treatments at once. So I would say ask your derm for a price estimate and then look around your area to see if there are any private laser clinics. I never tried any prescription creams or anything, but I would recommend the laser for sure. It worked really well and I am super happy with how my skin looks and feels now. It’s not completely perfect but it definitely is MUCH less red and hot on a daily basis. I made a video about the experience and will link it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IClvrroxWGA
Hope that helps!
hello liv^^
i have question .. does IPL help flushing? when i aam anexity or in a hot weather or room where temperatture is high my face burn and became really red ..i visited doctor in 6th march and she said i have flushing and capilares appear several years later if i dont take care of this … she didnot say anything about rosacea (sorry for my english ..its not my first language )
I have that too. The IPL helped with the hot feeling, although my face does still flush and get red in appearance, I can’t notice it anymore because I can’t feel the warm “flushing” feeling anymore. Hope that makes sense! <3
Thank you for answer my question ^^
I am unable to see the results when I look for follow up to this How did your skin look a few weeks later?
I ended up doing a recap of my experience and the before/after when my treatments were done in video form! You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IClvrroxWGA
I will put together a blog for this soon! Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Hiiiiii I was just wondering after the IPL was over did it stop your face from being red / hot in the heat (like 70-90 degrees)? Your skin looks amazing tho 😙!
it definitely helped it from feeling hot on my own face, although it still appears a bit red when I am really hot!
Hi Liv,
Thank you for doing this blog post and video recap. You are inspiring and helping so many. Did you happen to get the little tiny bumps with your rosacea? I wondered if you did, did you notice a difference when you do get red or pink still, do you also get any bumps with it?
One more question I had was, did your skim stay pinker or redder for a few days after? I just had my first treatment two days ago and I still am pretty red/pink… will that go away or do you stay red until you’ve had a few treatments in a row?
Thank so much!!! 🥰
My redness after treatments went away in a few hours. I didn’t really get the little bumps, at least not that I noticed. Mine was mostly just hot, flushed looking and any pimples were also red and kind of painful because of it!!
Hi Liz. I am also considering this treatment. What is the down time afterwards? Can you cover it with makeup or is the type of healing where you wanted to stay in, away from others? Was there scabbing or bleeding? Did I see somewhere that some skin gets a little purple afterwards? Thanks for answering. What kind of training is necessary for the therapist to do a good job?
I went makeup-free for the rest of the day for my first one because my face was super red! For the rest of my appointments I applied makeup around an hour or so later :). No scabbing or bleeding! Any sun spots or marks you have will turn dark and flake off but its not noticeable at all and they just look like a freckle in my experience! My skin only ever got red, not purple. I’m not sure in regards to training, I would make sure you go to someone with many years of experience who specializes in face laser, not just someone who does hair removal for example. And someone who offers a free consultation first is always a good idea because it shows they take their business seriously! I hope that helps 🙂
Hi Liv
Did you see an improvement after the first treatment? When did you start to notice the improvement in the redness? I just had my first ipl done 3 days ago. Thanks.
Hi Liv
Your video was very helpful. Did you see any improvement after the first treatment? When did you start noticing an improvement in the redness? Thank you.
Hi I blush a lot and I was wondering if this treatment minimises the feeling of blood rushing to your face? xx thankyou:)
Hi,
I found your video so helpful – as a fellow young woman with Rosacea it can feel like only older people have it. I just wondered how the IPL has held up over time? Have you gone back for more?
My doctor recommended 3 sessions of IPL plus another laser and said that should last for 18 months…
Mine lasted about 2 1/2 years with touch ups here and there! <3
Hi Liv- I noticed above you said you still flushed and got red, just couldn’t feel the heat. Did it reduce the flushing redness at all? Like when you flushed was it mess severe at least? Thanks
Hi Liv!
I’m just curious as to what make up products you use on your face? CC cream or foundation? Concealer? Powder? Thanks!
I have an instagram video showing my whole routine here 🙂 https://www.instagram.com/tv/CO-9ew-H92L/
Thank you for sharing your experience with treating rosacea using IPL photorejuvenation. Your journey and results provide hope and inspiration to others struggling with this condition. It’s encouraging to see how this treatment has improved your skin and boosted your confidence. Your honesty and insights make this article both informative and relatable. Keep shining!
This blog post provides a firsthand account of using IPL photorejuvenation to treat rosacea. Liv shares her experiences and results, offering valuable insights for others considering this treatment option. Definitely worth checking out for anyone interested in rosacea management!