Rosacea Treatment

We will help your skin look less red so you can feel more confident in social situations without having to cover up or avoid meeting people.

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Rediscover your true look at DermMedica…

with one of our rosacea treatments…

Unless you are a blushing bride, constant facial redness is not all that desirable in most situations. Some of our patients even have random strangers giving them advice about drinking less so they wouldn’t look so flushed all the time, how rude! These patients don’t even drink! Beyond the cosmetic appearance, chronic facial redness can lead to more permanent skin changes over many years such as acne-like pimples, dry sensitive skin, dry eyes, enlarged nose and much more. Treating Rosacea is a must for anyone experiencing these symptoms to prevent any long term damage to the skin.

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KEY BENEFITS

Improved self confidence
Less cover-up and more even skin colour

AREAS TREATED

FACE

EQUIPMENT / TECHNIQUES

Vascular Laser
Skin Care
Medications

More About our Vbeam Laser

Vbeam Laser

We will help you eliminate redness and blood vessels on your face or other body parts so that you can live more confidently with our Vbeam laser.

The VBeam laser (also sometimes known as a vascular laser) is a pulsed dye laser. This means that the light energy is delivered in a series of pulses to reduce red marks and treat dilated blood vessels. The Vbeam laser treatment works on multiple areas of the body and it is effective for many different skin conditions both medical and cosmetic in nature.

This vascular laser targets the blood vessels specifically to damage them permanently so the body removes them over a few days to weeks with little to no peripheral damage.

Procedure Time: 15-30 minutes
Recovery Time: 0-2 days usually
Lasts: Permanent however new blood vessels usually grow back over time.
Technique: Laser treatment on surface of skin
Pain Level: Minimal to moderate depending on area and patient
Results: In 1-5 days results are usually apparent.
Anesthesia: Topical cream for some patients is recommended.

Why Choose Us?
Dr. Crippen is certified by the ABLS and ASLMS in laser procedures.

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Treatment Results

Just like skin, results may vary. These pictures (of our awesome, real-life clients!) help you see what is possible and sets a realistic expectation.

We’d love to get to know you, learn more about your goals, and see what treatment options would suit you best.

Book a consultation with us today!

VIEW TREATMENT GALLERY

*Treatment results may vary from person to person

  • I have had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Crippen for awhile now, he does botox injections for me every 3 months. I was very nervous at first, but the staff and Dr. Crippen made me feel at ease right away. He is a wonderful Doctor, very caring and does a fantastic job. I highly recommend Dr. Crippen. Staff is also excellent!!! Thank you.

    LK Jan 15, 2013

  • Dr. Crippen is an absolute maser with Botox. I’ve had little filler implants done around my face, my ears and lips so far, and each operation came out looking exactly the way I had hoped. Not too puffy, not too thin.

    John Savill Sep 4, 2014

  • This place does the best work of all the skincare clinics I’ve tried in the Vancouver area. I go back periodically for new botox and juvederm injections, and they always make it look brand new and just right every single time. This place has earned my business.

    Greg Monte Aug 26, 2014

  • I was deeply impressed with the work of this clinic. We visited for my teenage daughter after over-the-counter medications had failed her. The acne removal treatment recommended and performed by Doctor Crippen was incredibly effective. We’ve been back for a couple more treatments over the years, and they are all as effective. I wanted to note in particular that he and the staff had a wonderful manner while administering treatment. My daughter typically hates clinical environments but she always felt very comfortable here.

    Phoebe Provenzano Jun 29, 2014

  • This is the only place that I’ve gone for age spots since it opened. I loved how easily I could schedule at short notice, and the commitment the staff showed to making sure that I understood everything I wanted to know. I was treated very well here.

    Yolanda Tighman Sep. 05, 2014

  • I loved how little time it took to set up the chemical peel treatment and to get it. Your clinic made the day very convenient for me, especially since two other clinics had already told me that they couldn’t fit me in that. Your chemical peel was also one of the most effective that I’ve ever had. I’m extremely satisfied.

    SeasonDucharme Sep. 5, 2014

  • I had excellent results with a Coolsculpting operation at this clinic. Dr. Crippen took me through everything I wanted to know before we started, and I was still surprised at how easy it was. It took a little longer than I would have liked for the results to kick in, but I didn’t change anything and I lost weight.

    Ami Hamann Aug 26, 2014

  • My coolsculpting treatment was first performed at this clinic, at the Kelowna location, which might be their only one. I’ve never had coolsculpting performed anywhere else, so I can’t judge the quality compared to other clinics, but it was really effective. The procedure was completely painless and didn’t even feel uncomfortable. The easiest weight I have ever lost.

    Ron Woodhouse Jul 06, 2014

  • Dr Crippen performed the Juvederm treatment in a highly professional, caring and pleasant manner. I found the entire experience to be a comfortable one and despite having some initial reservations/nervousness, both he and his extremely competent staff, made me feel totally at ease and reassured. I cannot speak highly enough of the entire experience of being treated by Dr Crippen and his staff.

    DC Feb 9, 2012

  • I chose DermMedica hoping they would be able to help me with my lips. Dr. Crippen recommended a Juvederm filler, and I’m thrilled with both how easy it was and how great it looks. I was particularly pleased with the end result of the lip filler because I’ve had friends with that swollen look, and I did not want any part of that.

    Harold Elliott Sep. 2, 2014

Rosacea Treatment in Kelowna

Rosacea overview

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes inflammation in a person’s face. The most commonly affected areas are the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead and eyelids. Symptoms include redness, spider veins, red blood vessels, swelling and sores similar to acne.

Rosacea is a serious and long-term chronic condition. You should go to your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan. In serious cases it can cause blindness.

For Kelowna rosacea treatment Dr. Crippen at the Dermmedica clinic is a certified by the American Board of Laser surgery to perform cosmetic laser procedures. He is experienced in Rosacea treatments.

Symptoms of Rosacea

The most common symptom of Rosacea is redness of the face. It can occur in certain areas or over the whole face. This redness can have a significant negative effect on individuals. Other conditions and sunburns can cause facial redness. As a result it is important to visit a doctor to receive a diagnosis.

Other symptoms include:

  • Irritation from skin care products and makeup
  • Blushing easily
  • Spider veins and red blood vessels
  • A red or rounded nose
  • Acne-like sores
  • A feeling of stinging or burning in the face
  • Irritated, watery or bloodshot eyes

Causes of Rosacea

Rosacea is more common in fair-skinned individuals in particular those with Northern European ancestry. Those who blush easily are more at risk. It is more common in women than men. Those between the ages of 30 and 50 are at an elevated risk.

Rosacea subtypes

Rosacea has four subtypes. They are erythemato-telangiectatic, papulo-pustular, phymatous and ocular. Each one of them requires a different style of treatment. For our Rosacea treatment in Kelowna we tailor the treatment to what will work best for whatever type the patient has.

Rosacea treatment should be tailored to the specific subtype and severity of the disease to create and optimize the patients therapy.

Erythemato-Telangiectatic:

The Erythemato-Telangiectatic subtype presents as redness and visible blood vessels on the cheeks, forehead, nose or the face in general. Individuals with this type will be intolerant of most skin medicines and cosmetics.

It is treated by avoiding things that trigger blushing, use of sunscreen, photoprotection and laser therapies. The laser treatments target the redness and blood vessels. Lasers used in these treatments include pulsed dye laser, KTP laser and Nd-YAG laser. The type of laser used depends on the nature of the blood vessels.

Papulo-Pustular:

The second subtype has symptoms including papules and pustules. Facial redness is concentrated on the nose, cheeks and forehead. Antibiotics and topical treatments are used for this kind. Medications used include azelaic acid, doxycycline, metronidazole, minocycline and tetracycline. Accutane is used in severe cases that don’t respond to other medications. Laser therapy is quite effective on this type. It helps to reduce the frequency of Rosacea and heals papules.

Phymatous:

The third type has symptoms including thicker skin and strange skin texture. Swelling or enlargement may happen in the oil glands, connective tissue and veins in the nose. The chin, ears, forehead and eyelids may also be affected. This subtype presents almost exclusively in men. It is a severe and requires antibiotics, laser treatment or surgery. The CO2 laser is best for this subtype.

Ocular:

The fourth subtype doesn’t always include skin symptoms. Usually the blood vessels in the eye are red and visible. Other symptoms include swollen eyelids, the feeling of a foreign object in the eye and inflammation of the eyelid glands. It is treated with antibiotics and by making sure to keep the eyes clean.

Treatments

Rosacea is a chronic condition for which there is no cure. However, it can be treated and monitored. Avoiding triggers is one of the keys.

These include:

  • Exposure to sunlight
  • Exertion in hot weather
  • Stress
  • Spicy food, hot drinks and alcoholic beverages
  • Wind exposure
  • Bathing in hot water
  • Cold temperatures
  • Some skin products and makeup
  • Exercise

Rosacea treatment Kelowna

Laser treatment can be very effective in treating Rosacea. It helps to reduce the density and quantity of blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin. After treatment most patients have skin that feels and looks better. Inflammation will be decreased as will the number of sores. Many patients return to Dr. Crippen on a regular basis to maintain their skin treatment.

MORE ABOUT THE V BEAM LASER

Vbeam Laser Treatment – Kelowna | DermMedica

The VBeam (Vascular Laser) Treatment

The VBeam laser (also sometimes known as a vascular laser) is a pulsed dye laser. This means that the light energy is delivered in a series of pulses to reduce red marks and treat dilated blood vessels. The Vbeam laser treatment works on multiple areas of the body and it is effective for many different skin conditions both medical and cosmetic in nature.

Before/After of a patient with facial redness who had a few VBeam laser treatments.

Reduces the Appearance of Redness and Sun Damage

We will apply the laser energy directly to the affected area of skin. This laser is designed to target red blood cells within vessels.  This will help reduce the redness seen at the surface of the skin.  In addition, this laser can be used to treat other conditions of the skin that have been caused by sun damage and acne.

Dr. Crippen and/or his trained laser staff member will calibrate the laser to treat the specific area of the body and determine the strength needed for your customized treatment as each area, condition, and patient is unique. Each patient will be given specialized protective laser eyewear as well.

Skin Conditions Treated by VBeam Lasers

The VBeam laser can treat numerous skin conditions that cause discolouration or a change in natural skin tone. These include but are not limited to:

  • Rosacea
  • Birthmarks
  • Acne/Acne Scars
  • Keloid or Skin Scars
  • Facial Flushing
  • Facial blood vessels/redness
  • Leg Veins
  • Sun Spots
  • Brown Pigmentation
  • Stretch marks (new)

As each treatment is unique to each patient, and the length of time the problem has existed, VBeam laser treatments work well on recent skin problems, but can also be performed successfully on long-standing problems.

Results & Recovery

While many patients see results in as little as one treatment, to completely eradicate the skin-affecting problem, VBeam laser treatments usually work best in a 3-4 treatment cycle.  Some conditions may require further treatment or recurring visits one to two times per year.

Patients are expected to feel some minor discomfort during treatment which generally consists of a feeling of slight pinching of the skin. On occasion, when treating deeper skin problems such as Port Wine Stains, bruising can occur but this is not the normal patient or situation.

Should you have any questions regarding VBeam laser treatments, or any of the other treatments, please contact DermMedica. We’d be happy to walk you through your customized treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can An Adolescent Use These Treatments?

Our acne treatments are safe for adolescents, and we can treat younger patients with permission from their parents or guardians. Early treatment can be important to diminishing the effects of acne scars and other damaged skin.

Can You Prevent Future Breakouts?

Acne can breakout for many reasons, some of which are difficult to control with any method. There are treatments and lifestyle changes that may make a difference, depending on the source of your acne. We’ll be able to tell you more with a physical examination.

How Effective Is The Acne Scar Treatment?

We’ll let our clients speak for themselves: Testimonials can be found here. The before-and-after photos that you see on this page are taken from our own clinic. Not every type of acne scar can be treated easily, but we have achieved great results for our patients.

Will Laser Treatment Stop Recurrence of Acne?

Certain types of lasers can improve acne although acne is a genetic/hormonal condition that will improve usually over time. Some of the lasers that can help are the long-pulsed 1064 laser, v-beam laser, blue light and a few others.

Quickest and Most Effective Acne Treatment?

The most effective acne treatments are those that reduce inflammation. The V-Beam laser is very effective in reducing the redness associated with acne break-outs but medication is the mainstay of therapy to maintain long-lasting results.

Will There Ever Be a Really Effective Acne Treatment?

There are many effective acne treatments today. One treatment may work for one individual but not for another hence a few different approaches are sometimes needed for each patient. Usually a combination of medications is the best way to attack and eliminate acne break-outs.

What Are the Different Types of Acne?

Some different types of acne are comedonal, pustular and cystic. Comedonal acne is commonly referred to as blackheads. Pustular acne is the type of acne that forms a small white papule at the top of the lesion with a red swollen base. Cystic acne is the worst form of acne that can cause permanent scarring.

What’s the Best Back Acne Treatment?

Topical medications are usually impractical for treating back, so oral medication is the best in this situation. Commonly used medications include oral antibiotics or isotretinoin.

Are There Acne Treatments for Different Types of Acne?

Absolutely. We tailor our acne treatments depending on the type and location of the acne. For example, severe cystic acne on the face or chest/back requires isotretinoin. Mild comedonal acne on the forehead might only require a mild topical cream. Each acne treatment is unique to the patient.

If I Switch Acne Treatments, Will I Get Break Outs?

If your treatment regimen for acne is working, don’t change treatments. If it’s not working, then switching might be a good option. In the latter case you should only see improvements generally from a change in your acne treatment regimen but each case and patient is unique.

Risks and Complications of Laser Acne Treatment?

Laser therapy can be useful mostly for the redness associated with an old acne lesion, not as much for ongoing break-outs. Some complications of vascular laser therapy to remove some post-inflammatory erythema from acne includes bruising (very common), swelling and tenderness to the area for a day or two at most. More severe complications are very rare with the technology used today in the V-Beam laser.

Acne scarring on face, Hi there – I am interested in knowing what the cost of treating acne scarring may be. My son has quite a bit of scarring on his cheeks and is now on prescribed medication to reduce the acne problem but he has quite a bit of scarring to deal with.

This is a great question we get all the time. The possible treatments depend on a lot of factors, not the least of which is your sons age, current and past medications, skin colour, medical history and more. In general we perform laser treatments for acne scarring that has been present for at least a few years once the acne has calmed down and is no longer an acute issue. In order to know for sure what treatment would be best, contact us for a consultation.

Acne preventable? The girls in my family typically have horrible problems with acne, and I never want to see my daughter go through that. Is acne at all preventable with the right treatments? Can it be treated early enough that really bad breakouts never happen?

Acne certainly does run in families but that is no guarantee that each person will be affected in the same way. Once acne is becoming a problem, absolutely we can make a huge difference with medications. The key is to prevent acne scarring which will cause permanent disfiguration to the skin. It is much easier to prevent acne in the first place than to try and remove scars once they are present.

How do I keep acne scars from developing? I’ve seen this happening to my sister, and I want to avoid it.

You’re absolutely right that preventing acne in the first place is the best way to avoid acne scars in the future. Even though we can help acne scarring with laser treatments, prevention should be the first goal at any stage if possible. Best to see your local physician who deals with skin a great deal to treat any acne. Every acne pimple/breakout will cause some scarring from microscopic (invisible to the eye) to very noticeable deep depressions in the skin. For nodular or cystic acne, sometimes Accutane is recommended as a treatment/cure for some patients.

What is the Best Treatment for Ice Pick Acne Scars?

Ice Pick Acne scars are best treated using ablative lasers that remove skin tissue and encourage significant skin healing and new skin growth. A fractional CO2 laser is the gold standard treatment for this kind of problem and multiple treatments are normally required for significant long lasting results.

What is the Best Treatment for Large Pores and Minor Acne Scarring?

This depends on the case, sometimes excision of a large pore will give the best cosmetic outcome and sometimes ablative CO2 laser therapy is the best choice. The patient’s medical history, skin condition and size of pore/scar will all influence the treatment options.

What are the Side Effects from Acne Scar Laser Treatment?

If ablative lasers are used to remove skin/tissue, there will be some redness, swelling and mild discomfort following the procedure for a handful of days on average. These kinds of lasers remove skin so the body has to grow new skin to replace what we have removed and as a result there are always certain side effects that can be expected. Much less common problems of skin pigmentation issues, infection and scarring are rarely seen if the patient follows post care instructions.

What is the Fastest Acne Scar Removal for Face and Chest Areas?

Again, this depends on the case but a variety of laser options exist for these conditions. Occasionally a vascular laser (VBeam) will be used to reduce the redness in the skin while fractional CO2 lasers will be used to smoothen the skin. Sometimes injection of a steroid medication into a large, bumpy scar will be required to improve the scarring associated with cystic acne.

Is It Safe to Have Laser Treatment While Breast Feeding?

Lasers only interact with the skin and have no distant effects on the body so yes, they are, for the most part, safe while breastfeeding unless we are using local anesthetic with them. This all depends on the procedure of course and a formal assessment is required in each situation.

Can Acne Scars Be Completely Removed?

We can only improve acne scars, never completely remove them. A significant improvement can be made with different lasers but normal skin is usually not achievable with the technologies available today. We can never promise patients something that is unrealistic to achieve.

Differences Between Tradtional CO2 Laser and Fractional Laser?

The traditional method of fully ablative CO2 laser treatments is to remove a full layer of skin evenly across a given area which results in significant downtime and risks. Fractional CO2 lasers, as the name implies, only treats a fraction of the skin by producing small holes in the skin, leaving normal skin right next to it. The result is less downtime for the patient, however more treatments are needed to see the same amount of change as a traditional CO2 laser treatment but with much less risk.

Which Laser Would Work Best for Cystic and Raised Keloid Acne Scars?

A combination of vascular lasers (VBeam) and the fractional CO2 laser would work best in this situation. We would also likely inject the lesion with some steroid to reduce the size of the scar before performing any fractional laser treatments. Our fractional CO2 laser treatment is called the DermaPeel.

Microdermabrasion Vs Laser Genesis for Acne Scars?

Microdermabrasion and laser genesis will not give much of a result for acne scars. Microdermabrasion is good to remove dead skin on the surface leaving the skin feeling temporarily smoother. Laser genesis is a brand name for a laser that does not have much of an effect on acne scars either. These treatments would leave the patient with little to no downtime as well as no results.

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