The V-beam is a vascular laser commonly used for the treatment of the inflammatory skin condition rosacea, which is often seen affection the skin around the face and eyes. Rosacea is characters by redness, pimples, and broken blood vessels. It is more common in people with fair complexions and is often mistaken for adult acne. The V-beam can also be used to treat a number of other skin conditions, including acne scarring, port wine stains, telangiectasias, angiomas, hemangiomas, pikiloderma of civatte, venous lakes and warts.

The V-beam is a pulsed die laser that uses laser light to penetrate the skin. This light is absorbed by the pigment in small blood vessels beneath the skin which causes them to heat and coagulates the vessel, which turns off the vessel’s ability to hold the same amount of blood. The blood is what causes the red pigmentation and without the same blood supply, the skin will no longer hold a red tint. The V-beam is a non-ablative laser, which means that it will leave the top layers of skin unaffected and penetrate to the lower layers where these problems lie.

The Vbeam utilizes a dynamic cooling device that uses a cool liquid sprayed on the surface of the skin before each laser pulse. This makes the laser far more tolerable than other lasers, the Vbeam has even been used on young children and infants without event. The sensation is described as being similar to hair removal lasers or small pinch or snap similar to a rubber band. Most patients can easily tolerate the treatments, but numbing creams may be available for those who are worried about discomfort or sensitivity. The V-beam uses a system featuring a dynamic cooling device that hyper-cools the skin instantly before the laser is activated to protect the upper layer of skin and make the treatments more comfortable.

Patients are advised to avoid exposure to the sun and tanning before and after treatments. If there is any discomfort ice may be applied to the treatment area along with moisturizer or a topical antibiotic cream. Patients should refrain from scrubbing or using harsh soaps and cleansers for the first several days after treatment.