September 2002
Dear Paula,
I am 33 years old and have rosacea. At its worst it was never very extreme, but it drove me nuts. I went to three very well-esteemed dermatologists at UCLA. I was put on the antibiotic doxycycline, [and] Noritate creme (much like Metrogel only it is applied only once a day). None of this really made much of a difference. Then I went to another dermatologist more focused on "vanity" issues. She used a laser on my chest and face. I had no swelling and only a slight redness. This was six months ago and my rosacea was completely gone until recently, when it has come back a little bit.

My doctor said I might need one or two more treatments. But it has worked. I don't know the name of the particular laser. I just wanted you to know that there is an alternative that works for rosacea. I'm sure the prices vary, and I believe my doctor was very reasonable. It was $500 to laser my face and chest. My chest has remained completely clear, so I'll only have to do my face next time.

Madeleine, via e-mail

Dear Madeleine,
I have written before about the benefits of laser treatments for rosacea. They can be impressive though they are not always the success story you experienced. Some people have complete relief for long periods of time while others have their symptoms reduced though not eliminated, and occasionally there are those who receive no benefit whatsoever.

Several lasers or intense pulsed-light source machines are used for rosacea. The most typical pulsed-light machine used is the PhotoDerm. Other laser machines include the Argon-pumped Tunable Dye Laser, Flashlamp-Pumped Pulsed Dye Laser, Copper Bromide Laser, and the Krypton Laser.

As with any laser therapy, several treatments may be necessary to obtain the best results.