Sun damage and rosacea can cause facial blood vessels to be visible, and the situation can worsen under stress, heat, alcohol intake, menopause, emotions and certain foods. Although these vessels do carry blood, they are not critical to the body's functioning. Laser treatment can improve the blushing that accompanies this condition.

Pulse dye lasers shine a beam of light that penetrates the skin surface and destroys the hyperactive blood vessels. The laser selectively injures the blood vessels to minimize scarring and maximize reduction of redness. The vessels are unable to dilate and the blushing diminishes.

Either local anesthesia- or none at all- is used, and the procedure is completed in minutes. The area will begin to heal in one to three days. A single treatment may produce a 50 to 75 percent improvement. Further treatments, done every six to eight weeks, may prompt even greater improvement and sharply reduce blushing.