“I tried BBL laser to see if it could help my rosacea – here’s what happened”

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had redness. It wasn’t until my late teens that I finally figured out why my cheeks seemed to flare up with any temperature change or stress; I had rosacea. 

One of the first things you learn about rosacea is that it’s an inflammatory skin condition that has no cure – it’s with you for the long haul. While you can minimise its effects with the right skincare routine and lifestyle, you can never fully get it under control.

This is why I was so intrigued by the rise of the BroadBand Light (BBL) laser, which features broad-spectrum light to target a range of skin concerns including redness, pigmentation, and broken capillaries. 

How does BBL laser work?

The BBL laser differs from other laser skin treatments as it uses lasers of different wavelengths to treat your skin woes, while boosting collagen production. The best part? There’s zero downtime. Yes, you might be a little red or experience some swelling for up to 24 hours after the treatment, but it’s very minimal compared with other laser treatments on the market.

I was at Sarah Chapman’s Skinesis Clinic in Sloane Square when my facialist asked if I’d ever thought about trying BBL laser. I quizzed her on how it works and immediately booked in, with the hopes that it would help me solve my rosacea flare-ups once and for all. 

While you can see brightening benefits from the get-go, it can take three or more BBL laser sessions to really reap the rewards for more stubborn skin issues such as pigmentation and rosacea. My first session begins with a cleanse and a Visia scan – advanced digital imaging analysis using multi-spectral light, so you can see your skin up close and personal. The scan flags any pigmentation, as well as giving your skin a score depending on factors such as sun damage and redness. Of course, my redness score was pretty high, which was what I was there to help change. 

Then it was on to the laser itself. It’s important to go in with bare skin free of any fake tan, as the laser could misinterpret your fake glow as pigmentation. I was also advised not to use any skincare actives (hello, retinol) for a couple of days before the treatment to minimise sensitivity. But other than that, there was zero prep work to do.

A cooling goo was applied to my skin before my eyes were covered and the laser began. It felt like hot zaps to the skin (if you’ve used an at-home microcurrent device, it’s not too dissimilar from that feeling – just a little more intense). It did make me jump, but I think that was down to the noise the laser itself made. My technician started on a less intense setting to get me used to the sensation, and then dialled it up a notch.

It wasn’t painful, just a little uncomfortable in places. My skin felt a bit hot and I was expecting to be bright as a beetroot afterwards – so I was shocked to look in the mirror and find my cheeks just looked a little rosy. I was told I might experience some swelling and soreness afterwards, as well as some redness, but I didn’t notice anything beyond the norm. The whole appointment took just over an hour, with the laser session itself only lasting 30 minutes.

I was advised to leave my skin for the rest of the evening and skip vitamin C in the morning (as well as any retinoids) for up to 24 hours to help my skin heal. Other than that, it was pretty low maintenance. I even applied make-up in the morning as normal.

It can take up to 10 days to see the effects, but I noticed my skin looked brighter and clearer after just a week – not too shabby for a first session. It wasn’t just my imagination either. When I returned for my second session two weeks later, the Visia scan at the start showed my skin tone was more even and smoother, too.

My second session was exactly the same process, just a little more intense to try and boost the effectiveness of the treatment. Still, I didn’t experience any swelling or severe redness afterwards as I’d seen over my social media feed. This time, my skin looked even more glossy, healthy, and even-toned a week afterwards.

My skin before, after one session and after two sessions of BBL laser.

After just two sessions, my skin definitely appeared more glowy and healthy-looking, with less overall redness. I’d hoped that with my next rosacea flare-up, my skin might not feel as sore, but that wasn’t the case. I still had the tell-tale sensations of inflamed skin, but it wasn’t quite as red as usual when I looked in the mirror.

As well as the redness, I was also trying to erase some post-acne scarring from a gigantic spot I’d had over the summer on my forehead, right above my eyebrow. It’s slowly appeared less prominent over time, but I still felt the need to cover it with a little bit of concealer.

Overall, I would say the BBL laser is one of the most effective, low-maintenance skin treatments I’ve had. I can only imagine what more sessions could have achieved, but I would say that patience is key. If you’re looking to tackle more stubborn issues, such as more severe acne scarring, sun damage or melasma, you’re going to need to prepare to book a few appointments. But it’s still speedier than relying on skincare products alone.

It wasn’t the one-solution cure I was hoping for when it came to rosacea (although I was definitely setting my hopes too high with that one), but it has made my skin look clearer and more even. And it’s made my rosacea more manageable, so I’d say the investment is worth it. I mean, the results speak for themselves.

Sarah Chapman Skinesis Clinic BBL Laser Treatment from £350 for 30 minutes.

Images: Charlotte Bitmead