A laser treatment favored by celebrities for its anti-aging benefits might hold the promise of relief for millions suffering from a persistent skin condition.

Rosacea, affecting approximately three million individuals in the UK, manifests through symptoms such as facial redness, flushing, blemishes, and sensitivity. The condition often proves difficult to treat effectively and tends to recur frequently.

Recent insights suggest that a cutting-edge laser therapy known as BBL HEROic, which has been embraced by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, could alleviate symptoms for nearly all rosacea patients.

This device represents the most sophisticated iteration of BroadBand Light (BBL) technology, touted by dermatologists for delivering improved outcomes across a broader spectrum of users.

BBL is a variant of intense pulsed light therapy (IPL), which emits high-intensity light flashes that penetrate the skin.

The light energy targets pigment and blood vessels, converting to heat upon absorption. This process helps shrink damaged blood vessels and can reduce redness by up to 90 percent.

Experts hope it will prove more effective than standard IPL, which has inconsistent results – with studies suggesting that it fails to work in around 30 per cent of patients.

Nicky and her son Dr Jonny Betteridge, who runs the Skin Clinic at JB Aesthetics in London

Rosacea most commonly appears in young adults – and predominantly those with fair skin. Although it’s unclear why it develops, it is believed that an over-active immune system response and abnormal blood vessels in the skin may play roles.

‘With this newer, more advanced technology we are able to reduce redness, inflammation and uneven skin tone to a greater degree and for more patients,’ says Dr Jonny Betteridge, who runs the Skin Clinic at JB Aesthetics in London.

‘The machine delivers more targeted exposure to the light energy and can be tailored to the sensitivity of the skin, which is why standard therapy does not work for so many patients.

‘The only patients who we can’t treat with this machine are those with papulopustular [acne-like] rosacea and those with darker skin tones – they will likely need a dermatologist.’

The condition can present in several different forms. Some people experience persistent facial redness and visible blood vessels, while others develop acne-like bumps and pus-filled spots. For others, the skin becomes thickened and swollen, most often around the nose.

Patients may also experience irritation or inflammation of the eyes. There is no cure but treatments can help manage symptoms. The NHS offers prescription creams, antibiotics and tablets to reduce inflammation.

Some studies show that a substantial proportion of patients – between 12 per cent and 37 per cent – do not achieve complete remission or experience a return of symptoms.

The results of Nicky’s treatment: before (left) and after

‘Using BBL HEROic is done alongside these standard treatments to manage repeated flare-ups and reduce symptoms,’ says Dr Betteridge.

One of the first patients to benefit from the new treatment at his clinic was his mother, Nicky, 64, a life-long rosacea sufferer.

‘It really affects your confidence, and if I looked in the mirror in the morning and it was bad I would stay in all day,’ says Nicky, who lives in London.

‘When I did go out it could really affect me. I remember being on holiday and someone stopping me in the street to tell me that I had really bad sunburn, when it was actually a bad day for my rosacea.’

Over the years she tried a number of treatments, all ineffective. But after three BBL sessions she saw a ‘massive change’.

‘There has been a big difference day to day, in that the open blood vessels that were visible before are much less noticeable now,’ says Nicky. ‘But also I do not get flare-ups, which was the case on other medications.’

Current guidelines from the British Association of Dermatologists do not include BBL as a treatment option for rosacea and it is not available on the NHS.

Four sessions are usually required, in as many months, at a cost of around £550 a session at a private clinic. However, experts say that for milder cases a single session may provide relief.

Aside from expensive treatments, there are steps that all rosacea sufferers can take to try to manage symptoms.

Dr Betteridge, who also suffers with rosacea, says: ‘It is really important that people understand what the triggers are for them. That can be alcohol, spicy foods or stress.’

Skin specialists also recommend that all rosacea patients follow a gentle skincare routine that includes daily sunscreen, a cleanser and moisturiser.

‘It is really important to choose products that are not harsh on the skin,’ says Abbi Ingram, a skin practitioner at JB Aesthetics.

‘Look for fragrance-free products, a non-foaming cleanser, and avoid products with a high alcohol content.’