Opening treatment guide...

Laser for Redness | My Beauty Protocol

Correction

Laser for Redness

Often searched as Vbeam & Excel V

Vascular Laser Therapy for Redness

Plain-English name: Vascular Lesion Treatment

Also known asPulsed Dye Laser (595 nm)KTP Laser (532 nm)Nd:YAG Laser (1064 nm)

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

Focused laser energy selectively targets hemoglobin within unwanted blood vessels.

Downtime: 2 weeks
Sessions: 3–5
Pain: Medium
Cost per visit: Price level 3 of 5
Full course: 3–5 sessionsAsk the total price for all of them.
Results start: In 2–4 weeks
Results last: Months to years

A laser series for lasting redness and small visible vessels.

Check first: Active skin infection in the treatment area.

Will it work for me?

Skin tone

Often used on tones I–IV, with the right settings.

On tones V–VI, dark or light patches are more likely. Ask your provider first.

IVery Light

IILight

IIIMedium

IVTan

VBrown

VIDeep

Often usedAsk first

Skin tone ranges differ by device. Ask which device they will use for your skin.

General info, not a check of your own skin.

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

Skin types

Often a fit for all of these. Tap one for details.

Skin types to ask about first

Breakout-proneAsk first

Active breakouts in the area may need to calm down first. Ask your provider.

Some people try this firstCheaper, same-day options. They cover or style. They don't treat.

For redness
- A green-tinted primer under your usual makeup
- Fragrance-free products, to avoid more irritation
- Green sits opposite red on the colour wheel, so it tones redness down.
What it won't do: It hides redness for the day. It doesn't treat rosacea.
Which colours? See the guide.
Source: AAD: 7 rosacea skin care tips

The laser type matters more than the brand.

In no special order. Ask which one they use, and why.

Laser types

Devices

Ask your provider

Which device and settings will you use for my skin, and why?
Can we do a test spot first?
What result is realistic for me, and after how many sessions?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 15–45 minutes
Total course: 3–6 months
Session interval: 4–6 weeks

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

A few days of redness; up to 2 weeks if bruising

Avoid sun

30 days

No makeup

24 hours

No sweat or heat

24-48 hours

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
Come with clean skin: no makeup or lotion
4 weeks before
No tanning or strong sun for 4 weeks before
1 week before
Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E for 1 week before, if your doctor agrees
3–5 days before
Stop retinoids, acids and scrubs for 3–5 days before
Right after your visit
- No hard exercise or heavy lifting for 24–48 hours
- Avoid hard exercise, heat and heavy sweating for 48 hours
After your visit
- Don't pick, peel or scratch
- Use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer
- No direct sun
- Wear sunscreen every day
- Use a cold pack for swelling
- Immediately after treatment, expect warmth, redness, and swelling, similar to a sunburn. This usually subsides within hours to a couple of days. If purpuric settings are used (common with PDL), significant bruising may last 7-14 days. Gentle cleansing and consistent sun protection are crucial during healing. Results start to show in 2–4 weeks, after any bruising fades.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Active skin infection in the treatment area
History of abnormal scarring or keloids
Use of photosensitizing medications (e.g., isotretinoin) in the past 6 months
Recent sun exposure or use of self-tanner
Pregnancy

Possible side effects

Common

Temporary redness
Swelling
Bruising (purpura), especially with Pulsed Dye Lasers
A sensation of mild sunburn

Less common

Blistering or crusting
Hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin)
Hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin)
Atrophic or hypertrophic scarring (less than 1% with PDL).

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

Laser energy is absorbed by hemoglobin in blood vessels, converting to heat that safely coagulates and collapses them for natural clearance.

A little more technical

The laser emits a wavelength of light that is selectively absorbed by hemoglobin in blood vessels, heating them to the point of coagulation and collapse without harming surrounding tissue.

The principle of selective photothermolysis is utilized, where a specific wavelength of light (e.g., 532nm, 595nm, 1064nm) is preferentially absorbed by oxyhemoglobin within cutaneous blood vessels. This absorption generates heat, leading to thermal damage, coagulation, and subsequent collapse and elimination of the targeted vessels by the body's natural processes.

Energy type: 595nm Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL); Strongly absorbed by bright red blood, which makes it a main choice for rosacea redness and cherry angiomas.
Mechanism category: Vessel Coagulation; The laser heat is absorbed by the blood, causing the broken capillary walls to collapse and seal shut. The body then naturally flushes the destroyed vein away.
Safety: Expected Purpura; Can cause intentional, temporary dark bruising (purpura) for a few days, which indicates a highly successful treatment of the vessel.
Common device / product names: Pulsed Dye Laser (595 nm) · KTP Laser (532 nm) · Nd:YAG Laser (1064 nm) · Excel V / Excel V+ · Candela Vbeam (Prima, Perfecta) · Long-Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser (1064nm)
Clinical descriptor: Vascular Laser Therapy for Redness