Hydrafacial as a treatment for rosacea?

Often mistaken for acne, rosacea is a chronic, progressive and rather complex skin disease. Initially benign, it manifests as redness that primarily invades the central part of the face. These flushes can become permanent as the condition progresses. The blood vessels dilate while small red bumps, or papules, appear. Rosacea is also accompanied by hot flushes and a significant sensitivity of the skin. Rosacea can worsen over time with symptoms that evolve in a cycle. However, there are treatments that manage these symptoms and improve the appearance of the skin, without truly curing rosacea. Among them, hydrafacial is regularly mentioned.

If you are suffering from rosacea, even mild, it is important to consult a dermatologist. The symptoms of rosacea can quickly worsen without appropriate treatment.

Originating from the United States, the HydraFacial treatment aims to deeply cleanse the skin. Non-invasive, it seeks to achieve a more hydrated skin, reducing imperfections, pigmentation spots and signs of skin laxity. The results are gradually obtained over the course of the sessions. Depending on the needs, the results can be faster or slower. In the case of rosacea, it is generally recommended to have 3 to 6 sessions spaced 2 to 3 weeks apart.

The duration of a hydrafacial session varies between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the skin's needs. A cleansing of the skin is first carried out, often using lactic acid, to remove sebum, impurities and accumulated dead cells. A fairly gentle peel is then performed. For this, a mixture of salicylic acid and glycolic acid, two exfoliants, is typically used. The concentrations are tailored to the patients' needs. After which, if the skin has comedones or blemishes, these are removed using a painless suction system . Finally, the skin is hydrated and a serum traditionally based on hyaluronic acid and peptides is applied to accelerate its regeneration.

Please note : HydraFacial sessions are not recommended for pregnant women and individuals undergoing acne treatment or those who have had acne treatment within the year.

The hydrafacial treatment can to some extent and in conjunction with treatments prescribed by a dermatologist help to alleviate the symptoms of mild rosacea. Indeed, the gentle peel and hydration boost it provides to the skin can help to reduce the characteristic redness of this skin condition. After several sessions, individuals suffering from rosacea typically find that their complexion is more even.

However, it is important to clarify that a hydrafacial treatment can only be performed in cases of mild rosacea, or erythrosis, when the skin only presents a few redness. It is strongly advised against having a hydrafacial session when the skin has telangiectasias. These small purplish blood vessels appear in cases of vascular rosacea. Furthermore, it is also recommended for people suffering from papulopustular rosacea not to have a hydrafacial session, as it could worsen the condition of their skin or cause a superinfection.

• Kelly ZAROUKIAN's thesis. Study of the clinical, cellular and molecular aspects of rosacea, associated dermo-cosmetic treatments, and the impact on the patients' quality of life (2017).

• STEINHOFF M. & al. Recent advances in understanding and managing rosacea. F1000 Research (2018).