Red Light Therapy For Face: Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin condition affecting hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide - and while purely a cosmetic issue, it has the potential of diminishing aspects of one’s quality of life over time. 

Fortunately, red light therapy offers an innovative solution that may help put a stop to 

this problem.

In this article, we’ll explore how red light therapy for face applications may help manage rosacea symptoms and even offer relief to individuals struggling with this condition.

Explaining Rosacea

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition characterised by facial swelling, redness, and visible blood vessels.

While mostly a cosmetic issue, people with rosacea may experience emotional distress and embarrassment from it. In more severe cases, rosacea can even cause physical discomfort to the afflicted individual.

Interestingly, rosacea commonly affects fair-skinned people of European/Celtic descent and occurs more in women ages 30 years or older. Rosacea is highly unlikely to be seen in our Pacific Islander brothers, but it has been reported to happen in some individuals. 

Furthermore, while most typically get facial redness, swelling, or both, each individual can have different symptoms that can be classified into four subtypes:

• Subtype 1: Known as ‘erythematotelangiectatic rosacea’ (ETR). This subtype is characterised by facial redness, skin swelling, and visible blood vessels close to the skin’s surface.

• Subtype 2: Known as ‘papulopustular rosacea’, or acne rosacea. This subtype combines the redness of Subtype 1 with acne-like breakouts that may cause a ‘stinging or burning sensation’ to the individual.

• Subtype 3: Known as ‘phymatous rosacea.’ This rare subtype occurs when parts of the skin get thicker, often on the nose. It usually affects older men and is accompanied by another subtype.

• Subtype 4: Known as ‘ocular rosacea.’ The symptoms primarily target the eyes, causing bloodshot, watery, burning, or itching of the eyes.

Treating Rosacea

Rosacea, while causing physiological discomfort at its worst, is notoriously hard to get rid of. You’ll mostly need a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and often expensive procedures to diminish the symptoms at best.

The fact that there’s no known cause for rosacea makes it even harder for physicians to come up with a specific treatment.

One leading theory for rosacea's development is poor mitochondrial function. The mitochondria are critical for energy (adenosine triphosphate) production and damaged organelles cannot effectively use oxygen.

This can lead to increased nitric oxide (NO) levels. NO is a potent vasodilator that can cause enhanced blood flow to the skin, which causes inflammation – a key characteristic of rosacea.

So, How Does Red Light Therapy Help?

Fortunately, thousands of peer-reviewed studies on red light therapy have already proven it to be effective in reducing inflammation and addressing other skin-related conditions.

In the context of rosacea, red light therapy helps reduce the associated inflammation by resolving low energy output and oxygen consumption in the body – boosting mitochondrial output.

This helps the mitochondria to effectively use oxygen, which in turn helps produce more ATP. This sudden burst in ATP production provides energy for tissue repair and regeneration, therefore reducing inflammation. RLT also promotes the release of NO from the mitochondria, further aiding tissue repair, as well as modulating inflammatory responses.

Unlock Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Face With ROJO 

Although more research is needed to further cement findings, some studies have already found positive applications that can make it a safer, more effective, and non-invasive approach to treating rosacea in the future.

As of now, RLT is used in conjunction with medications as light therapy may not be effective as a standalone treatment option.

If you’re thinking of adding it to an existing treatment, we highly recommend consulting with your physician first. They can help determine whether using red light therapy for face applications is safe and effective for you.

However, If you’re interested in trying out its effects first-hand, ROJO offers safe and effective devices that protect you from the invisible, yet damaging effects of Flicker and electromagnetic fields (EMF). Contact us to learn more.