Re: Q. for those who have had or are having PhotoDerm treatments

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

I am seriously considering having PhotoDerm treatment and wanted to check a

couple of items with you before I take the next step.

I've found a private hospital in London that has a PhotoDerm unit and is

willing to see me for a consultation. On first phoning their reception I was

told that they didn't offer PhotoDerm for rosacea but after I spoke to one

of the people who actually does the treatments she said that they have done

it in the past and may do so again depending on the condition of my

skin/rosacea. She said that they couldn't do it on active rosacea which I

already knew from reading the info. on www.cosmetixlaser.com for a place in

the USA. Then she said that active meant that I have the bumps. I get the

feeling that they are a lot more cautious here than they are at the place I

read about it on the Web. Perhaps they are not as confident, I don't know.

But since I am on a high dose of antibiotics I have not had any papules for

months, although I can see that if I wait much longer I may start getting

some. I wanted to ask you what you understand by active rosacea, since I

would have to pay 75 pounds stlg. (~ 125 US dollars) just to find out at my

initial consultation. Is PhotoDerm generally used on patients whose rosacea

is not too severe to start with?

For those who have already had treatment, how have you found it? I'd like to

know whether it can do anything for seborrheic dermatitis as well. I often

get it on my jawline and areas where facial hair grows. I know that some of

you have had full facial PhotoDerm done (Thor?), in which case, does it help

with seb. derm? Even for those who haven't, it may be possible that by

reversing the rosacea, the seb. derm. is also treated. Is this true, because

I find that my seb. derm. gets worse when my rosacea is bad, and conversely

it goes away when my rosacea is not so severe.

The info. I read at cosmetixlaser.com says that on average patients

experience 80% improvement. I take it this translates to an 80% reduction in

the redness? I read that it also makes the skin appear smoother and more

normal. Do you think it can reverse the scaly, oily look that I currently

have, where the skin has a different texture due to the enlarged oil glands?

Is this true or a bit optimistic? If this is true it would be great. They

even state that some patients were able to discontinue antibiotics which

they were taking for years. Has anyone experienced that, or thinks they will

be able to stop after their PhotoDerm treatments are over?

Finally, the cost of each session after the initial consultation at this

place in London is 150 pounds (~ 250 US dollars). How does this compare with

what you are all paying?

Sorry to go on for so long, but I don't feel I am given all the answers when

I talk to the professionals. On the one hand they tell me that they don't

offer it for rosacea, and then the next thing they are telling me that they

have got good results on some rosacea patients. Furthermore, I feel that if

PhotoDerm really does do wonders at reversing rosacea, it is my only hope

since nothing I have tried so far has done anything but halt the progression

of the condition for a few months at best. That is why although I was about

to go and buy The Sher System, which I think may only help me temporarily, I

thought I should consider PhotoDerm first.

Thanks very much,

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[Guest guest]

.

Some answers:

" But since I am on a high dose of antibiotics I have not had any papules for

months, although I can see that if I wait much longer I may start getting

some. I wanted to ask you what you understand by active rosacea, since I

would have to pay 75 pounds stlg. (~ 125 US dollars) just to find out at my

initial consultation. Is PhotoDerm generally used on patients whose rosacea

is not too severe to start with? "

My PhotoDerm doctor treats neither those with active rosacea nor those on

antibiotics. Active rosacea is - according to what he has told me - skin with

papules and pustules. I'm only using sunscreen and metro lotion daily while

undergoing the treatment. Even though my eyes are literally driving me insane I

have not taken any antibiotics.

" For those who have already had treatment, how have you found it? "

It made no dramatic change but it lessened the pain. I'm hoping that my second

treatment on July 9 will reduce the redness more.

" I know that some of you have had full facial PhotoDerm done (Thor?), in which

case, does it help with seb. derm? "

I don't know. I don't have that problem myself and have never asked. Can do that

next time.

" They even state that some patients were able to discontinue antibiotics which

they were taking for years. Has anyone experienced that, or thinks they will

be able to stop after their PhotoDerm treatments are over? "

I'm told that I have to use metro lotion forever.

Thor.

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[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I have had 3 treatments. So far I see about a 45% reduction. As for the

break out component, that seems to go back and forth for me. I have been off

oral antibiotics for 2 months however, I do use celocin T lotion daily. I do

believe the photoderm actually helps when you are experiencing the bumps

(clears them out of the skin a bit faster) but I can't say that it has truly

stopped the break outs -- I wish it had! Perhaps that will happen as I

progressive along--as Dr. Nase stated in his earlier posts.

Be sure the machine is a photoderm VL/PL! Not the old out dated model! It

should be the vasculite model. Price seems to vary with all of us in the

group so far...but I would say $125 is dirt cheap! Most have posted $300 to

$600 entire face treatment.

Perhaps you could e-mail Dr. Bitter's office and ask them if photoderm helps

with the seb derm?

Bye,

Darlene

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[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply Thor. I can sort of understand why I may not be

treated whilst on antibiotics. They give the appearance that our rosacea is

not as bad as it really is, thereby making it more difficult for them to use

the correct setting.

About you having to continue with the Metro Lotion, does anyone know if Dr

Nase is still taking topical and oral antibiotics, after his full set of

PhotoDerm treatments? One would think that we could either cut down on the

dose.

>My PhotoDerm doctor treats neither those with active rosacea nor those on

>antibiotics. Active rosacea is - according to what he has told me - skin

>with papules and pustules. I'm only using sunscreen and metro lotion daily

>while undergoing the treatment. Even though my eyes are literally driving

>me insane I have not taken any antibiotics.

>I don't know. I don't have that problem myself and have never asked. Can do

>that next time.

>

>I'm told that I have to use metro lotion forever.

>

>Thor.

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[Guest guest]

Darlene,

Thanks for your response.

It's unfortunate that your skin sitll breaks out. I had hoped that because

PhotoDerm reverses rosacea, it stops the flare ups happening again. Maybe,

as you say, it just takes time.

The 125 dollars I quoted was just for the initial consultation. Sessions are

around 250 dollars, but I'm told that that is still cheaper than some of the

derms in the US charge. I will check to see whether they use the latest

PL/VL device. I know that they've had it for about 3 years. If it's not the

latest, but someone else does have it, they may well charge more!

I take it Dr Bitter is the derm. at cosmetixlaser.com, in which case I will

ask him about seb. derm. Thanks.

>

>Hello ,

>

>I have had 3 treatments. So far I see about a 45% reduction. As for the

>break out component, that seems to go back and forth for me. I have been

>off

>oral antibiotics for 2 months however, I do use celocin T lotion daily. I

>do

>believe the photoderm actually helps when you are experiencing the bumps

>(clears them out of the skin a bit faster) but I can't say that it has

>truly

>stopped the break outs -- I wish it had! Perhaps that will happen as I

>progressive along--as Dr. Nase stated in his earlier posts.

>

>Be sure the machine is a photoderm VL/PL! Not the old out dated model! It

>should be the vasculite model. Price seems to vary with all of us in the

>group so far...but I would say $125 is dirt cheap! Most have posted $300

>to

>$600 entire face treatment.

>

>Perhaps you could e-mail Dr. Bitter's office and ask them if photoderm

>helps

>with the seb derm?

>

>Bye,

>Darlene

>

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[Guest guest]

,

I think it's mainly because antibiotics can make you photosensitive.

Thor.

wrote:

original article:/group/rosacea-support/?start=5820

> Thanks for your reply Thor. I can sort of understand why I may not be

> treated whilst on antibiotics. They give the appearance that our rosacea is

> not as bad as it really is, thereby making it more difficult for them to use

> the correct setting.

>

> About you having to continue with the Metro Lotion, does anyone know if Dr

> Nase is still taking topical and oral antibiotics, after his full set of

> PhotoDerm treatments? One would think that we could either cut down on the

> dose.

>

>

>

>

>

> >My PhotoDerm doctor treats neither those with active rosacea nor those on

> >antibiotics. Active rosacea is - according to what he has told me - skin

> >with papules and pustules. I'm only using sunscreen and metro lotion daily

> >while undergoing the treatment. Even though my eyes are literally driving

> >me insane I have not taken any antibiotics.

>

> >I don't know. I don't have that problem myself and have never asked. Can do

> >that next time.

> >

>

> >I'm told that I have to use metro lotion forever.

> >

> >Thor.

>

>

> ______________________________________________________

>

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[Guest guest]

Good point. Sorry, I didn't make the connection with that side effect. It

could be a problem for me as I've been on tetracycline for over a year and a

half and if I stop I will get papules. I will get back to that clinic on

this and see what they say.

>

>,

>

>I think it's mainly because antibiotics can make you photosensitive.

>

>Thor.

>

> wrote:

>original article:/group/rosacea-support/?start=5820

> > Thanks for your reply Thor. I can sort of understand why I may not be

> > treated whilst on antibiotics. They give the appearance that our rosacea

>is

> > not as bad as it really is, thereby making it more difficult for them to

>use

> > the correct setting.

> >

> > About you having to continue with the Metro Lotion, does anyone know if

>Dr

> > Nase is still taking topical and oral antibiotics, after his full set of

> > PhotoDerm treatments? One would think that we could either cut down on

>the

> > dose.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > >My PhotoDerm doctor treats neither those with active rosacea nor those

>on

> > >antibiotics. Active rosacea is - according to what he has told me -

>skin

> > >with papules and pustules. I'm only using sunscreen and metro lotion

>daily

> > >while undergoing the treatment. Even though my eyes are literally

>driving

> > >me insane I have not taken any antibiotics.

> >

> > >I don't know. I don't have that problem myself and have never asked.

>Can do

> > >that next time.

> > >

> >

> > >I'm told that I have to use metro lotion forever.

> > >

> > >Thor.

> >

> >

> > ______________________________________________________

> >

>

>

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>

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi Darlene,

Thanks for replying. I gather you're off the antibiotics whilst having

PhotoDerm because of photosensitivity? I hope your break-outs appear less

and less frequently over time. I'm interested to know if you and the others

are experiencing fewer or less intense bouts of flushing and feeling less

hot and fired-up now? Also, would most of you say that you are happy with

how effective PhotoDerm has been for you so far?

Harriet checked with the clinic here about their unit and apparently it is

the most recent model and completely up to date.

It's just the cost of the initial consultation that's about 125 USD. I wish

the treatments were that much, but from what I'm told by people in the

group, 250 is still cheap compared with what some derms. charge.

Thanks again,

>

>Hello ,

>

>I have had 3 treatments. So far I see about a 45% reduction. As for the

>break out component, that seems to go back and forth for me. I have been

>off

>oral antibiotics for 2 months however, I do use celocin T lotion daily. I

>do

>believe the photoderm actually helps when you are experiencing the bumps

>(clears them out of the skin a bit faster) but I can't say that it has

>truly

>stopped the break outs -- I wish it had! Perhaps that will happen as I

>progressive along--as Dr. Nase stated in his earlier posts.

>

>Be sure the machine is a photoderm VL/PL! Not the old out dated model! It

>should be the vasculite model. Price seems to vary with all of us in the

>group so far...but I would say $125 is dirt cheap! Most have posted $300

>to

>$600 entire face treatment.

>

>Perhaps you could e-mail Dr. Bitter's office and ask them if photoderm

>helps

>with the seb derm?

>

>Bye,

>Darlene

>

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>

>eGroups.com home: /group/rosacea-support

> - Simplifying group communications

>

>

>

>

>

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