Pulsed Dye Lasers Are Your Dermatologist's Secret Weapon to Fight Pigmentation
It's engineered to treat the redness that skincare can't reach.
If you’ve ever dealt with persistent redness, you know how stubborn it can be to treat. Whether it’s the flush that never fully fades, broken capillaries that sprout seemingly overnight, or the pink, post-acne marks that linger long after a breakout is gone, vascular redness rarely responds to skincare alone. I personally have cycled through soothing serums, avoided every conceivable trigger, and layered on color-correcting concealer, yet the underlying redness often stays exactly where it is. It's the kind of frustration that makes you rethink your entire beauty routine. At a certain point, it becomes clear that no amount of niacinamide or green-tinted primer can change the actual vessels beneath the surface, which is why my dermatologists recommended considering pulsed dye lasers—or PDL for short—to address this lingering pigmentation.
The treatment has quietly become one of the most trusted tools for tackling redness at its source. And despite its intimidating name, it’s far more straightforward—and far more effective—than you might expect. Dermatologists love PDL for one main reason: it targets the blood vessels responsible for redness rather than the resulting symptoms. The technology has been used for decades, and unlike "do-everything" lasers, PDL has a singular purpose. That specificity is what makes its results so consistent. It's used for everything from rosacea and broken capillaries to the kind of stubborn post-acne redness that refuses to fade. In other words: if it's red, PDL can likely treat it.
The best part? The treatment works in minutes. Ahead, board-certified dermatologists break down exactly how PDL works, what it treats, who it’s best for, and what to expect from a session.
What Is a Pulsed Dye Laser?
At its core, a pulsed dye laser is a vascular laser—engineered specifically to treat concerns that stem from dilated, damaged, or visible blood vessels. Dermatologists rely on it because it addresses the underlying blood vessels responsible for flushing, broken capillaries, and post-acne redness rather than the surface-level symptoms we see in the mirror.
“PDL is ideal for nearly anything that appears red, including rosacea, facial flushing, broken capillaries, persistent post-acne redness, red acne scars, cherry angiomas, bruises, port-wine birthmarks, poikiloderma, early red stretch marks, and surgical or traumatic scars,” explains Rishi Chopra, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
How Does a Pulsed Dye Laser Work?
To understand why PDL works so well, it helps to understand how it interacts with the skin. The laser emits a highly precise wavelength of yellow light that targets hemoglobin—the pigment in red blood cells—while leaving surrounding tissue largely untouched. This targeted approach allows dermatologists to treat redness aggressively when needed, often with surprisingly minimal downtime.
While the technology sounds complex, the idea is simple: a pulsed dye laser is designed to find and treat redness without affecting the surrounding skin. It does this using a principle called selective photothermolysis, which essentially means the laser targets only what it's meant to—nothing more.
“The laser’s energy converts into heat, which collapses the targeted blood vessels so the body can naturally clear them away, all while keeping the surrounding skin intact,” says Deanne Mraz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Westport, CT.
“The PDL emits a 585–595nm wavelength that’s selectively absorbed by hemoglobin in red blood cells, creating controlled heat that collapses unwanted vessels,” she says. This specific wavelength, she notes, is what allows PDL to detect redness so precisely: the red in blood absorbs the energy, whereas the rest of the skin largely does not.
What Does PDL Feel Like?
Although it is a medical laser, the treatment is very brief and surprisingly tolerable. Dr. Chopra says most patients find the experience to be quite mild. “PDL treatments are quick and very tolerable—no numbing is required,” he says. “Patients describe each pulse as a brief rubber-band snap with cooling air, and sessions last about 10 to 15 minutes.”
Still, Dr. Mraz says some patients prefer numbing beforehand. “Most patients tolerate it well with topical numbing cream applied 30 to 60 minutes prior,” she says. “Typically, one to two passes per area are done in a single session.”
How Many Sessions Are Needed?
The number of sessions depends on the condition being treated and its severity. “Patients typically need one to three sessions for individual vessels and three to six sessions for rosacea or widespread redness,” Dr. Chopra explains. “Red acne scars and individual vessels often show long-lasting or near-permanent improvement, while rosacea typically requires maintenance over time.” These results can last months to years, especially with ongoing sun protection and maintenance.
What is the Downtime and Aftercare?
The recovery period for PDL depends mostly on how aggressively the dermatologist treats the area. “With gentler treatments, patients can expect redness and mild swelling for a few hours,” Dr. Chopra says. “With more aggressive treatments, there may be redness and swelling for 24 to 72 hours, occasional tiny bruises, and temporary small welts.” Avoiding intense heat and sun exposure and using gentle skincare for a few days are essential.
When it comes to caring for your skin in the hours and days after a pulsed dye laser treatment, Dr. Mraz says to take it easy. “You will want to use gentle skincare while your skin repairs itself and avoid heat and UV exposure,” she says. “Be diligent with an SPF 30 or higher and protective measures like a wide-brimmed hat.”
What are the Side Effects of a Pulsed Dye Laser?
PDL is considered extremely safe, and complications are rare when trained dermatologists perform treatment. “Temporary redness, swelling, and bruising are the most common side effects,” Dr. Chopra explains. “More serious issues, such as burns or long-lasting pigment changes, are extremely uncommon in experienced hands.”
Who is a Good Candidate for Pulsed Dye Laser?
PDL is a very adaptable treatment, which makes it suitable for a wide range of patients. “Anyone with redness is an ideal candidate for PDL,” Dr. Chopra says. “It can be customized for the full spectrum of skin types and works well on smooth skin, textured skin, youthful or mature skin.”
However, treatment settings do need to be adjusted when treating deeper skin tones. “Darker skin types require lower energy settings and longer pulse durations to reduce the risk of pigment changes,” Dr. Mraz says. “With proper customization, PDL can still be used safely on a range of skin tones.”
Both dermatologists emphasize that some situations warrant waiting. Patients who have recently tanned, are pregnant, have active infections, or are on photosensitizing medications should avoid treatment until they are cleared by their doctor.
Pulsed Dye Laser vs. Other Vascular Devices
Dermatologists typically select the best course of treatment for a patient based on vessel depth, color, and skin tone. “PDL is the most established vascular laser and is excellent for a broad range of redness,” Dr. Chopra says. “KTP, on the other hand, is best for very superficial bright-red vessels and tiny linear vessels, and Nd:YAG is best for deep or blue-toned vessels, facial veins near the eyes, and leg veins.”
IPL, another popular laser, works well for general redness, mild vessels, and sunspots in lighter skin tones, though it's less precise and carries a higher risk in deeper skin tones.
As with any laser treatment, the best approach is to consult a board-certified dermatologist who can determine whether PDL, or another device entirely, is the safest and most effective option for your specific skin concerns. “Your dermatologist should tailor the device and treatment plan to your specific concerns and goals,” Dr. Mraz says.
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Meet the Experts
Rishi Chopra, MD, MS, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist with fellowship training at Harvard and widely recognized expertise in cosmetic dermatology, laser devices, and skin of color. He completed advanced laser and aesthetic training at Harvard Medical School under the inventors of technologies such as laser hair removal, fractional resurfacing, pulsed dye lasers, CoolSculpt, Ellacor, and Accure. He has been honored as Pfizer’s 2021 Rising Derm Star and a “4-Under-45 Medical Aesthetic Vanguard,” recognizing physicians shaping the future of aesthetic medicine.
Dr. Chopra has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, consults for leading aesthetic device and cosmetic companies, and lectures regularly at national meetings including the AAD, ASDS, ASLMS, Masters of Aesthetics, and Vegas Cosmetic Surgery. He practices both medical and cosmetic dermatology with a philosophy centered on natural, balanced results and a collaborative approach. He performs injectables, lasers, RF microneedling, PRP, vein treatments, fat reduction, and muscle stimulation, and is considered a global expert in the Ellacor micro-coring skin-tightening procedure.
Deanne Mraz, MD, FAAD is a fellowship-trained, board-certified dermatologist based in CT. She is the President and Co-Founder of Modern Dermatology of Connecticut in addition to founder of DMR Research, a cutting edge aesthetic-based research institution. The former CMO of Ideal Image, Dr. Mraz is an authoritative voice in aesthetics, who is intimately involved not only with clinical research, but also speaks on a global level, is on faculty at Yale New Haven Hospital Department of Dermatology, and is published in popular and peer reviewed press and journals.
