2nd PhotoDerm Treatment

[Guest guest]

I had my second PhotoDerm treatment at the Hospital in Machester,

UK today.

A bit of history:

I had about 6 test patches done by the Dr then the Nurse over the previous

2 months.

One set of test patches caused a burn which took about three months to

clear (it became

a discolored muddy brown). This was with the 515 filter, which I've since

heard that many

doctors avoid because a) it has a slightly higher tendency to burn and

it's not much good

in treating rosacea.

The best results came from:

550 filter 40j 3.5ms pulse duration 20ms delay

This was the only test patch that showed an immediate reaction (whitening

of the skin, turning

red over the next couple of hours). Fading of the test patch showed up by

6-10 days.

The procedure is carried out by a nurse, not a doctor, and she isn't as

methodical as I would

have liked at making sure she doesn't leave any gaps. I am left slightly

stripy.

Anyway, the first treatment left me quite swollen for about three days and

was really quite painful

(swollen and throbbing) the day after. There was also one mild bruise

which the nurse said was

probably because she hadn't put enough of the conducting gel on (at least

she's honest). The

treatment probably resulted in a 30- 60% reduction in redness and maybe a

10% reduction in

flushing.

For this treatment I induced a flush and asked for the energy to be knocked

down to 39j when she

was treating around my eye area (as Dr. Nase said, don't treat too close

the delicate under eye

skin). She also used the smaller crystal for this area. Hint: For those

sensitive parts of the face, this crystal

is less painful than the larger crystal. For me, the 40j with the larger

crystal is very painful. Rather

like a hot poker being stabbed against the face.

I have had significantly less swelling this time, and virtually no pain the

day after. It is now 2 days

after the treatment (less than 48hrs) and I am 90% normal again.

There is already clearing beginning to show. I have asked for one more

treatment with the 550 filter,

then to go deeper with the 570 and then 590 filters.

The nurse who did the last two treatments is now on maternity leave so she

was talking through

what she was doing to my face to another nurse who will take over from now

on. Great.

Anyway, I'm glad that the results are good. I'm not that impressed with

the knowledge of the people

treating me, but I do get quite a lot of input into the settings which is

something.

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Reid on rosacea-support, skin@...