Uneven skin tone

Blotchy skin is a term commonly used to describe uneven skin tone. It appears as reddish or red-brown patches and is a combination of concentrated pigment and blood vessels, or broken capillaries.

It can be caused by a number of factors, including sun damage, acne, rosacea, scarring or pigmentation issues. All of these can leave skin that is not free of blemishes or pigment.

Rao Dermatology offers a number of solutions for blotchy skin, including IPL (intense pulsed light), non-invasive Laser Genesis and the very effective Sciton Profractional laser treatments.

What is blotchy skin?

Blotchy skin is typically associated with red, sometimes irritated and itchy skin, as well as darker patches of skin that most commonly occur on the face but can also be found on the neck and other parts of the body. Causes may include stress, genetics and hormones, as well as environmental impacts such as UV exposure and changes in seasons (weather extremes) and lifestyle (excessive alcohol and smoking).

Broken capillaries, also known as telangiectasia, are more likely to happen if you have dry, thin or sensitive skin, or if you have a skin condition such as rosacea or acne. These capillaries sit very close to the surface and are commonly found on the nose and cheeks, making them more visible.

A symptom of chronic skin conditions

Chronic skin conditions can also lead to the appearance of blotchy skin. These include dermatitis, a condition that results in inflammation and an agitated skin barrier, causing irritation and dryness. Skin appears red, inflamed and dry.

Rosacea is another chronic inflammatory condition, which presents as flushing of the skin. In rosacea, certain triggers can cause the skin to flush. Both conditions give the appearance of blotchy skin, and neither is preventable, but both can be managed with appropriate treatments.

Other causes of blotchy skin

Excessive alcohol consumption, stress and excessive exercise can raise blood pressure, causing your capillaries to dilate and, over time, to become broken capillaries.

Smoking can be another cause of blotchy skin. It causes oxidative stress, so that insufficient oxygen reaches the tissues, blocking the blood vessels, which in turn leads to dilation of the capillaries.

Other causes of blotchy skin include a poor diet, which can affect the body’s ability to regenerate itself, and excessive UV exposure, with repeated sunburn breaking down collagen and making these vessels more visible.

Our treatments for blotchy skin

IPL (intense pulsed light)

This treatment is a non-invasive approach to skin rejuvenation and collagen stimulation using infrared light. It offers the advantage of improving skin tone and surface imperfections associated with aging, photodamage and especially vascular conditions such as rosacea.

The procedure is ideal for any part of your face, neck or décolleté that shows redness, telangiectasia (tiny veins) or brown spots. It has been recommended for skin discolouration from sun damage and for flushing symptoms from rosacea. IPL has a wide variety of benefits, including:

• Even skin tone, removal of brown spots and sunspots
• Reduction of fine lines and wrinkles
• Removal of broken capillaries
• Refreshed and glowing appearance
• Tighter skin texture by stimulating the growth of new collagen and elastin

Laser Genesis

Laser Genesis treatments use safe, non-invasive laser technology to clear fine lines and diffuse flushing, redness and scarring. A short series of treatments may be recommended for optimal results, and patients will notice an instant improvement following each treatment, without irritation or downtime. By gently and comfortably heating the skin, Laser Genesis stimulates collagen to reduce fine lines and scarring; additional heat helps clear dilated capillaries that cause redness.

Sciton Profractional

The Sciton Profractional procedure is designed to rejuvenate your complexion and treat a variety of skin conditions related to your skin’s quality. The laser can efficiently improve the health of your skin by making microscopic perforations in the tissue, which stimulate your body’s natural healing process.

• IPL treatment
• Laser Genesis
• Sciton Profractional

Book a consultation

Our team is committed to working with you to develop a synergistic approach for enhancing your skin’s health and reducing the signs of aging.

During the consultation, we will address your specific needs and goals and answer any questions or concerns you may have about the procedure. We will also recommend the best treatment plan for achieving your desired results.