The last thing Lena Dunham expected was to develop rosacea at the age of 31. It happened overnight as the result of treatment with steroids. It started with two perfect pink circles on her face and within hours, hundreds of tiny pimple-blisters covered her from forehead to neck. “My face burned,” she told the press, but not as badly as my pride.” She had nothing to be ashamed of: 415 million people worldwide have rosacea.
The only shame is that she didn’t know what to do when her symptoms appeared. “I have no idea yet what will happen on this rosacea journey. My handbag is full of creams and potions, my tummy full of antibiotics and probiotics.I’m going to be swatch-testing foundations and concealers.”
We wish she had come to the Austin Clinic where we would have put her in the “spots light.”
Spots Light: Celebrity Treatment for Rosacea
At Austin Clinic, you don’t have to be Lena Dunham to get V.I.P. care for your rosacea. All our patients have the opportunity to experience the treatment benefits of BBL…Broad Band Light therapy. It’s a non-invasive medical therapy that works beautifully and doesn’t require time off from work for healing. What celebrity (or regular person) wouldn’t want that?!
The unique and flexible design of the innovative BBL at our clinic allows us to customise treatments to get the best results for people with rosacea and benign skin conditions such as:
- Sun damage
- Birthmarks
- Visible signs of ageing
- Unsightly small veins
“It even addresses unwanted hair,” says Dr Austin, “and unlike many other cosmetic treatments, no anaesthesia is required.” Most patients say that BBL feels like the snap of a rubber band. You feel the sensation and then it’s gone…along with rosacea redness.
Rosacea, When You Get It & Why
Rosacea is an all-too-common skin condition that is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms including:
- Frequent blushing
- Redness/flushing of the cheeks, forehead, chin, or nose
- Persistent facial redness
- Appearance of small blood vessels on the face
- Facial bumps and pimples that may burn or sting
- Swollen eyelids
- Red eyes
The exact cause of rosacea symptoms remains a mystery, though genetics certainly plays a part. “We do know that blood vessels under the skin dilate and when they do, the skin appears red and flushed,” explains Dr Austin. “Understanding that physical mechanism helps us prescribe the best treatments to correct the problem.”
Trigger Warning: These Things “Feed” Rosacea
Doctors have also identified certain factors that trigger symptoms, including:
- Hot baths
- Hot weather
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Spicy food
- Exercise
- Exposure to the sun
- Medications (this is what happened with Lena Dunham)
- Certain skin care products
Rosacea Treatments that Work
We’re happy to report that rosacea is not life-threatening, but its symptoms can negatively affect your physical and mental health. If you’d like to discover more about Broad Band Light therapy for rosacea and find out more about our training, background, and the other services we provide, please contact us using the form on this page.