Hey everybody

So recently (2 weeks ago) I got my first IPL treatment and I'm scheduled to go back on Monday. I began getting KPRF last year (2007) in about November, when it started to get cold. The derm and laser specialist (they work together) both said that the IPL will greatly diminish/get rid of my redness. They both were very knowledgeable about KPRF and were confident that it would work. Now that I've seen a lot of different opinions on this forum that say V-Beam is the only thing that will get rid of redness. I don't want to argue with the derm because Joe Schmoe said something else was better. Am I just wasting my time or is this worth it?

As well since my first treatment, I have and so have others, that the redness has gone down a bit. I'm hoping that this will continue *crosses fingers*

Thanks!

I agree, when a derm and a laser specialist both agree that IPL is best for you that you probably should listen to them.

Jason will probably be able to comment on this better for you but maybe they think if hair is removed that the irritation around the hair follicule won't be as much???

However if there are damaged blood vessels (ie. the underlying skin is red apart from the irritated hair follicules) PDL may possibly be of more help.

If you have had success with IPL I would certainly continue - if it no longer helps you, you could perhaps then discuss PDL with your derm and laser specialists. You may want to show them this medical journal article which shows PDL having excellent results on KPRF. refer to patient 25 on the table in the following PDF document:

Keratosis Pilaris Rubra: A Common but Underrecognized Condition -- Marqueling et al. 142 (12): 1611 -- Archives of Dermatology

All of our situations are different and sometimes 'the one rule fits all' doesn't apply. When it comes down to it all of us on the forum are unqualified and have never seen you face to face so I would tend to go with the specialists if they are both saying the same thing.

Wishing you all the best with your treatment.

OK I think I'll stick with IPL for now thank you!

Hi flap Jack, I wondered how did your IPL treatment go?? because my laser specialist adviced me this laser as well.
Hope to read your reply soon.
Thanks, Regina

Hey Regina
I just had my 2nd treatment yesterday and so far its going pretty good. I and others have noticed a reduction of the redness and bumps with little or no hair loss. I just hope it keeps working.
Good luck!

there is only hair loss if the setting is for hair removal, IPL targets the redness when set for that.

Oh ok sweet. The specialist did say that there may be some minor hair reduction, but that is un-common.

Thanks Jack, I hope the redness will continue to diminish By the way did it hurt?

regina

It does hurt yeah, but it goes away.

If IPL does not show the improvement u hope for , go with PDL thats what I did, but give it atleast 3 treatments before u decide.

and did PDL did the work for you? I asked the laser specialist why they recommend IPL instead of PDL and they said that PDL is more for singel visual vains and not for the diffuse redness..you know that covers your cheek..but on this forum people are most enthusiastic about PDL...why? didnt IPL work? for jack it does! right?

Jack only had 1 IPL treatment, u cant say if it works or not for any treatment untill after about 3, I had 7 IPL treatments and did not get the results I wanted, so I went with PDL, PDL is a pulse dye laser, IPL is intense pulse light (fiber optics), PDL helped alot more with 2 treamtments for me and Im going to get about 3 more to hopefully be completly done, my derm uses a method called "stacking" which is when they double zap every area, its like getting 2 treatmnents in one sitting. and leaves me all blotched with paleness areas, and some still red left over and then them areas treated again at the next treatment. along with Paxil 20 mg daily, stopped my flushing and blushing, but neither IPL or PDL stopped my flushing or blushing as even derms claim and the manufacturers of the machines.

Thanks for the info jason! I'm still a bit afraid of PDL though..I heard it can take months for your face to turn normal! I have another question (just discovered this site recently so I'm full of them ) I read so many complaints about flushing and blushing..I dont really have that..My cheecks are red..but not completely just like in a U form and a bit rough..not really really bumpy though, and I can blush sometimes but not more often than normal persons I guess..do you have to have these blushings things in order to have KPRF?? I'm really glad I found this website and here from you and others about this skindisorder

U need to be diagnosed by a dermatologist only they can see ur skin, not the forum, find out if u do have KPRF, then u can better understand the forum.

search online: google.com or ask.com etc.etc for Keratosis pilaris rubra faceii.

Yes I was diagnosed..I have normal KP as well..but since I found this site not everything is similar to me..but I guess everyone is diffrent!