Your June 2010 article on rosacea didn’t mention laser treatment. Can it help? —H.A.M., by e-mail

Yes, although it’s expensive. Various light therapies can reduce the signs of rosacea, a skin condition that causes facial bumps, flushing, and redness, if simpler measures don’t suffice. For example, visible blood vessels on the nose and cheeks can be diminished by pulsed dye lasers, which emit hot yellow light, or by intense pulsed light (IPL), which uses nonlaser light to penetrate the skin.

For thickened skin around the nose, doctors might use argon or carbon-dioxide lasers, which can make high-precision surface cuts and can be safer than surgery. But insurance often doesn’t cover the cost, about $300 to $600 per treatment, with several sessions typically needed.