Discover how laser treatment may help manage rosacea symptoms, reduce redness, and improve skin tone.

Dermatologists have found ways to treat rosacea symptoms with laser and light therapies. Different types of lasers target different aspects of rosacea.

These laser treatments target the symptoms of redness, thickening skin, and recurring patches of visible blood vessels that occur for some people who have rosacea.

Types of laser treatments for rosacea include:

Erbium YAG laser

This treatment targets visible blood vessels. It’s also used to correct excess tissue that can make the nose appear bulbous, a symptom of phymatous (type 3) rosacea. It may also add to its shape.

Pulsed-dye lasers

Cynosure, V Beam, and V-Star are names for this type of laser treatment, which is sometimes abbreviated as PDL treatment.

With this treatment, light is pulsed at an optimal wavelength to penetrate vascular lesions, or visible blood vessels. Dye is used to make the laser beam different colors, which aims to reduce the look of redness and inflammation.

CO2 lasers

These types of lasers are called ablative lasers. They aim to reshape your nose or other parts of your face if they have been scarred or enlarged by rosacea-inflamed tissue.

CO2 lasers are typically used to treat rhynophomas (thickened skin or puffy shapes on your nose) that are caused by rosacea.

Intense pulsed light therapy (IPL)

Intense pulsed light therapy is different than laser therapy. Instead of using one laser that focuses in on your skin, it uses several wavelengths of light at once.

IPL aims to get rid of unwanted pigment, redness, or unevenly toned areas of your skin. Some people think that IPL can be just as effective as laser treatments for certain skin conditions.

Dr. Debra Jaliman, a board-certified NYC dermatologist and author of the book “Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist,” explained the basic principle of laser treatments for rosacea in an interview with Healthline.

“The lasers use heat from wavelengths of light to collapse the visible, tiny red blood vessels,” Jaliman said. The result is a very effective, and mostly painless, way of treating rosacea symptoms.

Jaliman believes that a laser treatment for rosacea is a good choice for some patients. “Many patients see very good results,” she said. “These treatments help to eliminate the visible blood vessels from the face. It helps with redness, and dramatically improves the texture of the skin.”

The American Academy of Dermatologists states that lasers used to treat visible blood vessels have excellent results. Patients see a 50 to 75 percent reduction in their symptoms after one to three treatments that can last up to five years.

IPL treatments have also been deemed effective for treating visible blood vessels from rosacea. A small 2024 study showed that all 21 patients had an overall good response to treatment.

A 2024 meta-analysis of IPL treatment versus PDL treatment concluded that both IPL and PDL treatments are effective for management of rosacea. The study noted that IPL treatment is the more effective of the two, but PDL treatment is less painful, so may be better for some people.

In a 2019 case study, researchers used fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing therapy and found “impressive results, excellent tolerability, and minimal downtime” in treating rhinophyma.

Here’s an example of results for one person who opted for laser treatment for rosacea.

The most likely side effect you could have after this treatment is increased redness on your face or nose. “It’s common to see some redness after the laser,” Jaliman said. “This will usually fade within one to two weeks.”

Other side effects from laser treatment for rosacea include itching, rash, or your skin may feel tight.

These side effects are temporary and should go away within a few days. If your face appears to be burned or you experience symptoms of burning after a laser treatment in a dermatologist’s office, speak to your doctor about your symptoms.

Costs for this kind of treatment can get expensive. “The cost is not cheap,” Jaliman said, “[and] usually, it will be an out-of-pocket cost.” People who receive laser treatment for rosacea typically need several sessions, and each one may vary in cost.

The cost will vary depending on where you live, where you get the treatment, and the severity of your symptoms.

From what we know so far about laser treatment for rosacea, the treatment is effective.

Find a dermatologist to discuss your symptoms to determine if you’re a good candidate for laser therapy.

This treatment is helpful for some symptoms of rosacea, and results may last for three to five years.