What can Photodynamic Therapy help?
Acne (red & blue light)
Photorejuvenation
Vitiligo
Psoriasis
Post-Procedure Inflammation
Post-Operative Scarring

What is Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)?
Photodynamic Therapy is the combination of LED light (Ominlux™) with a topical medication/sensitizer called aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Before applying the ALA, the patient has a microdermabrasion and an acetone facial wash to allow better medication penetration. After ALA application, the patient remains in a dark room for 30 minutes to two hours while the medication is absorbed. Ater this induction time the medication is activated with exposure to blue light (wavelength 415nm). Depending on the condition being treated, other lights such as intense pulsed light or red light can be used to activate the ALA. Photodynamic therapy has been shown to be one of the most effective acne treatments currently available.

Is Photodynamic Therapy safe?
PDT is quite safe when patients and providers follow very strict protocols. The most improtant instruction is that patients restrict their exposure to sunlight or other bright lights for 48 hours after the procedure. Students receiving PDT usually miss a few days of school following the procedure. There may be some discomfort, redness and swelling following the procedure. Sun exposure can make these adverse effects significantly worse. Rarely, patients may experience some blistering after the therapy.

How soon can results be seen?
Initially the skin will become quite red, perhaps swollen. This initial reaction subsides in two to five days after which a significant improvement in skin lesions will be seen. Sometimes up to four treatments are needed to get the full effect. For optimum results:

Frequently Asked Questions—Photodynamic Therapy

How does it work?
When combined with a certain wavelength of light, ALA can selectively damage skin cells that are causing problems. It is activated by light to produce oxygen intermediates that destroyt these target tissue cells.

How long does the procedure take?
The patient first has a microdermabrasion and an acetone facial wash to allow better medication penetration. That may take about 20 minutes after which the ALA is applied. After ALA application, the patient remains in a dark room for 30 minutes to two hours while the medication is absorbed. After this induction time, the medication is activated with exposure to blue light (wavelength 415nm), taking approximately 20 minutes. Total time for the procedure can range from one to three hours.

Is it safe?
PDT is quite safe when patients and providers follow very strict protocols.

How many treatments are required?
To achieve maximum improvement of pre-cancerous sun damage, skin tone and texture, a series of three to four treatments performed two to four weeks apart is the most effective.

What results can be expected?
PDT has the unique ability to minimize pores and reduce oil glands, effectively treat stubborn acne vulgaris, acne rosacea, and improve the appearance of some acne scars. Patients with sever sun damaged skin manifested by actinic keratoses, texture, and tone changes including mottled pigmentation and skin laxity may see excellent results. There may also be improvement of large pores and pitted acne scars. Active acne can improve dramatically. Responses are not guaranteed but studies have shown about a 80% response rate.

Are there any side effects?
Following PDT, the treated areas can appear red with some peeling for two to seven days. Some patients have an exuberant response to PDT, and experience marked redness of their skin. Temporary swelling of the lips and around the eyes can occur for a few days. Darker pigmented patches called liver spots can become temporarily darker and then peel off leaving normal skin. This usually occurs over seven to ten days. Repeat treatments may be necessary as PDT medicine is not an exact science.

How soon can makeup be worn?
Makeup may be applied once any crusting has healed. This usually occurs five to ten days following the treatment. A good moisturizer such as Bellederm Gentle Hydration Lotion needs to be used, as the treated area will be very dry and tight at first.