This treatment is about calming down the look of redness, flushing and visible blood vessels, using the right laser or light technology for your skin.
I'm not curing anything, but I can get your skin looking calmer, clearer and much less flushed.
It's right for people who are bothered by persistent redness, frequent flushing or visible vessels and want their skin to look calmer, clearer and more even.
I won't treat you if your skin is sunburned, recently tanned, irritated, inflamed, broken or still healing from another treatment. I also won't treat you if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, have epilepsy, or are taking medication that makes your skin particularly sensitive to light.
If I feel that laser or light treatment isn't right for you at that particular time, I'll tell you honestly and ask you to wait until your skin is ready.
If you think you may have rosacea, your GP or dermatologist can diagnose and manage it.
I use my Syneron platforms, and I choose which one to use based on what your skin is presenting on the day. Different kinds of redness can respond better to different technologies, so I don't use a one-size-fits-all approach.
I'll also take your budget into consideration when we're deciding on your treatment plan. I'll explain the options to you, what I think will give you the result you're looking for, and we'll choose the treatment that makes the most sense for you.
This can feel quite different depending on which modality we're using.
If we're using IPL, you'll feel a sharp, hot sensation, very similar to a rubber band snapping against the skin and quite similar to IPL hair removal if you've had that done in the past.
If we're using our Fotona KTP handpiece, it feels completely different. You'll mainly feel a lovely warmth as the handpiece glides over your skin, so it's a very comfortable treatment.
We can't use numbing cream before this treatment because it causes vasoconstriction, which means the blood vessels temporarily narrow. That can make it harder for the machine to see the vessel properly.
We actually want to see those vessels in their full glory before we treat them! The idea is to deliver the heat and laser energy directly to the vessel, so we can heat and break down the vessel wall and prevent it from simply refilling.
There isn't one set number of treatments for everyone.
Redness and flushing can look very different from one person to the next, so the number of treatments will depend on what your skin is doing, how it responds and what we're trying to achieve.
I am a cosmetic skin practitioner. I am not a doctor or a nurse, and I do not diagnose skin conditions.
Maintenance is normally needed.
For many people, that might mean coming in every three to six months, depending on your lifestyle, your skin and how well you're managing the things that can trigger your flushing.
You also have a big part to play in how long your results last. Your skincare, sun protection and understanding what causes your individual flare-ups can all make a significant difference to keeping your skin calmer between treatments.
Unfortunately, for many people, redness and flushing need ongoing maintenance throughout their life. But the good news is that with the right laser and light modalities, together with good skincare and looking after your skin, we're now in a position where we can keep your skin looking calm very comfortably.
So rather than thinking, "How many treatments until the redness is gone?", I'd much rather look at it as getting your skin calm and then maintaining that result.
Normally, we'll space your treatments about four weeks apart while we're working through your initial series.
Once we get into maintenance, it really depends on you, your lifestyle and how your skin is responding. Some people feel they get the most benefit from continuing treatments every four weeks, while others may only need to come in every three months, particularly when they notice a period where more redness or visible vessels have started to appear.
There's not much downtime with this treatment. You'll walk out of my clinic looking a little pink and flushed, but that heat and flushing will generally settle down overnight. By the morning, you usually won't notice much at all.
Because I'm targeting the small vessels beneath the surface, a lot of the treatment happens internally, so you don't necessarily see a dramatic reaction on the surface of the skin.
If I'm treating individual broken capillaries or larger visible veins, they can sometimes turn a port-wine colour and may stick around for up to around nine days before gradually fading.
I like to make your appointment a complete experience rather than simply treating your skin and sending you on your way. We'll begin with a thorough skin assessment, followed by a beautiful, thorough cleanse. I'll spend time talking with you about your skincare, your lifestyle and any foods or triggers that may be contributing to your redness and flushing.
You'll then receive your personalised treatment, detailed aftercare advice and a plan for your next appointment, finishing with LED therapy to help calm and soothe the skin.
I wish people understood that redness and flushing are something we manage, not something I can permanently cure.
The more you understand your skin and what triggers your flushing, the more control you have over keeping those beautiful results.
Redness and flushing can flare again.
Often, yes. Many people notice their skin looks calmer and less flushed the following morning, with the results continuing to improve over the days and weeks that follow.
Results vary from person to person.
Once the skin is settled, maintenance can become much less frequent. For some of my clients, we're talking about once every few years, depending on how their skin behaves.
This is where I really want you to pay attention to your own triggers.
Things that commonly aggravate redness and flushing include:
Not everyone reacts to the same things, so learn your face. If something consistently makes you flush, take note.
SPF 50+ every single day.
And don't stop at sunscreen.
Hat. Shade. Sunglasses. Avoid the harsh midday sun where possible.
The Australian sun is not something we can ignore when we're trying to keep redness and pigmentation under control.
Use a gentle cleanser and a supportive moisturiser, and avoid constantly throwing new products at your face.
I particularly like Dermaviduals DMS Base Cream High Classic for keeping the skin barrier supported.
If something burns, stings or consistently makes you flush, tell me.
Treat it. Protect it. Don't constantly provoke it.
The right treatments can reduce visible vessels and redness, but your underlying tendency to flush can remain. That's why lifestyle, sun protection and maintenance make such a difference.
That's when redness becomes something we manage, rather than something that manages you.
| Activity | When |
|---|---|
| Makeup | Next morning |
| Gym | After 48 hours |
| Swimming | After 48 hours |
| Sauna | Ask me first |
| Sun | Ask me first |
| Alcohol | Ask me first |