Couperose

Telangiectasia is a skin condition that is characterized by small, widened blood vessels that appear just under the surface of the skin. Telangiectasia is not usually harmful to your health but can cause a number of unpleasant side effects. Some people also find they don’t like the look of their couperose and want the blood vessels removed.

What is couperose skin? Couperose is the redness associated with the early stages of rosacea. Quite often, rosacea, couperose, and telangiectasia are seen occurring simultaneously.

Anytime we see redness on the skin, it’s caused by an increase in blood flow to the area. When you bump your knee, it turns red because the body sends extra blood cells there to heal the wound — no matter how small it might be!

Redness on our cheeks or face is no different. Usually, the redness associated with couperose or rosacea is caused by excess blood vessels under the skin. When fragile capillaries in our face widen or break, they allow more blood than necessary to the skin. But instead of the excess blood healing the face, it remains in the tissues and gives you red, flushed cheeks.

This look can worsen if you’re hot or exercising, if you become embarrassed, or if your skin is oily or dirty. Facial redness causes painful, itchy skin, and can eventually lead to rosacea.

Your IPL Photofacial for the removal of broken or excess capillaries on the face will take approximately 45 minutes of time. For many people, just one IPL treatment is enough to destroy the broken vessels. However, it can take as many as four treatments to fully remove your broken capillaries. 

At Novuskin, we perform a complete digital skin analysis before any treatment you receive and speak to you about what we believe your prognosis and plan of care should look like before you book or pay for any treatments. This means you’ll have a good understanding of how long we think it will take before you’ve got the smooth, even skin you’ve been wanting.

IPL Photofacial is a non-invasive procedure, but it is mildly uncomfortable. It’s a bit like having a laser treatment, but less intense. During your IPL, a technician will use a handheld device to shine a very bright light onto small sections of your skin, moving around the entire treatment area to break up and remove the capillaries.

IPL is typically well-tolerated. Each pulse of light feels a little like your face is being snapped with a tiny rubber band. Your aesthetician can adjust the energy level so it’s manageable for you. If at any time you are uncomfortable, need a break, or need the energy turned down, your aesthetician will be happy to accommodate.

You shouldn’t need any recovery time after your telangiectasia facial. Usually, clients see a noticeable change in the skin immediately following their treatment which should improve over the coming days. You’ll be able to go directly back to your regular activities with no downtime whatsoever.

IPL Photofacial aftercare is simple since IPL is a minimally invasive procedure.

What to do After Your Procedure

After your IPL facial, you might feel like your skin is slightly sunburnt; you might feel like you have a hot face. This will subside within 24 hours. You can apply cool compresses to your face if it helps you. Sleep on your back and use an extra pillow if your skin is still bothering you at night.

Some areas of your skin may appear darker in the days following your treatment. Allow these areas to slough off naturally – don’t rub or exfoliate. 

What Not to do After Professional Redness Treatments

It’s very important not to expose your treated skin to direct sunlight for 4 weeks after your treatment. Use a high-quality SPF of at least 30 every single day. Wear a hat and sunglasses if you plan to be outdoors.

You can go back to your regular activities immediately following your treatment, but if possible, try to wait to apply makeup for the day.

Most people notice an immediate improvement in the look of their skin. Many capillaries can be destroyed and removed after just one treatment. 

However, in the first 24 hours after your treatment, you might notice:

• Your face looks a little blotchy, like red patches on the skin. This should fade within 24 hours.
• Your face feels slightly red like you got a mild sunburn. This should fade within 24 hours.
• You have dry skin. Drink plenty of water and use a moisturizer. Reapply if necessary.
• Some areas where there were larger capillaries may appear a bit darker in color. This is normal and you don’t need to be worried. Allow the skin to slough off naturally and it should dissolve within a week or two.

IPL is very safe for those who are good candidates. Venus Concept IPL technology has built in safety features that ensure simultaneous cooling to keep you comfortable during treatment. If you feel any discomfort, it may be as though very tiny rubber bands are snapping your skin. Each of the technologies used is FDA approved for the indicated uses and is non-invasive. 

Side Effects

There are very few side effects of IPL treatment. IPL is very safe and doesn’t pose risks to treatment for suitable candidates. However, you may notice these mild side effects.

• You may experience mild redness after your treatment that should fade in a few hours.
• During your treatment, you may feel slight discomfort, like your skin is being pinched or snapped with a tiny rubber band.

Contraindications

If you experience any of these conditions, you may not be able to have IPL treatments:

• Implants in the treatment area
• Photosensitivity
• Autoimmune disorders that can be triggered by light
• Excessively tanned skin

Unfortunately, dark skin tones should avoid IPL treatments, as they can have adverse effects on the skin tone.