While I admit that I like the rosy flush to a certain extent, permanent blotchiness can be embarrassing and definitely does not look as cute. Fortunately, there are very effective options to treat facial redness and you don’t have to endure it in silence. Facial redness is actually a common problem many people face, and some famous faces with rosacea include Cameron Diaz, Renee Zellweger, Cynthia Nixon, Prince William, ex-president Bill Clinton, and even master of art Rembrandt.
Two of the most popular treatments for photo-rejuvenation, the IPL and VBeam are effective treatments for redness but there are key differences between them.
Differences Between IPL and VBeam
IPL stands for ‘intense pulsed light’. It is not actually a laser but a light device with different wavelengths or colours of light which treat pigmentation and blood vessels in the same treatment.
VBeam is a laser device that emits a single wavelength (595nm) or yellow light. More specifically, it is a pulsed dye laser – a dye is used to generate the laser beam which is delivered in pulses. The emitted light is selectively absorbed by hemoglobin in blood vessels, collapsing them while leaving surrounding skin intact. It is frequently called a vascular laser.
While both are good treatments, most doctors do prefer one over the other, depending on the condition being treated.
Diffuse Redness
Both lasers treat redness, but the VBeam often requires less treatments compared to IPL. The VBeam is more effective in treating larger blood vessels such as those seen around the nose and midface in rosacea, as well as treating diffuse redness.
Broken Capillaries
The IPL uses a single handpiece which can be rather large for targeting small vascularised areas, whereas the VBeam handpiece has different-sized attachments so it is more effective at targeting vessels which can appear as dots or as linear vessels.
Is There Downtime For Either Treatment?
Most of the time, the downtime is very minimal. Patients may experience light redness and swelling for several days post-VBeam. In some cases, there may be very mild bruising on larger vessels treated.
Patients who have done IPL may experience slightly longer downtime with mild scabbing and temporary pigmentation.
Which Treatment Is Safer?
The VBeam has a built-in cold spray which acts as a safety function, preventing the skin from overheating. Strong IPL settings have been known to cause burns. VBeam is also done by a certified doctor, whereas IPL can be performed by a beauty technician in certain establishments.
IPL vs.VBeam – Which Is Better?
This depends on your specific needs. For redness with sun-damaged skin in fair-skinned individuals, IPL is preferred because it treats pigmentation better than the VBeam. However for diffuse redness or rosacea, VBeam is preferred by most experienced doctors for its efficacy and safety.