Photodynamic Therapy and Blue Light Therapy

How much improvement can I expect?

Patients with severe sun damaged skin manifested by actinic keratosis, texture, and tone changes including mottled pigmentation and skin laxity may see excellent results. You may also see improvement of large pores and pitted acne scars. Active acne can improve dramatically.

How many treatments will it take to see the "best resuts"?

To achieve maximum improvement of pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) sun damage, skin tone and texture, a series of three treatments 2-4 weeks apart is the most effective. Some patients with only actinic keratosis are happy with just one treatment. More treatments can be done at periodic intervals in the future to maintain the rejuvenated appearance of the skin.

What are the disadvantages?

Following PDT, the treated areas can appear red with some peeling for 2-7 days. Some patients have an exuberant response to PDT, and experience marked redness of their skin. Temporary swelling of the lips and around your 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.

In summary, photodynamic therapy is:

• Well tolerated (essentially painless)
• Easily performed by a specialty clinic environment
• Non-invasive (no needles or surgery required)
• Excellent cosmetic outcome to full face

Treatments Steps

1. Patients who have a history of recurring cold sores (Herpes simplex type I) should start oral Valtrex 500 mg tablets, two tablets twice daily for three days – starting this prescription the morning of your PDT treatment.

2. Make sure your skin is clean and free of all makeup, moisturizers, and sunscreens. Bring a hat, sunglasses, and scarf when appropriate to the clinic.

3. Photography will be done by the staff before the Levulan is applied.

4. You must sign a consent form.

5. Microdermabrasion may be performed. This will enhance the absorption of the Levulan and to give much more even uptake.

6. Levulan is applied topically to the whole area – whole zone to be treated (such as the whole face, back of the hands, extensor part of the forearms)

7. The Levulan is left on for 30-60 minutes before any light treatment.

8. The Levulan is activated with a unique spectrum of light beginning with low energy levels. This is painless but requires about 8 minutes to complete

Manufacturer: DUSA Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Licence: #26386, Blu-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator  Class: 2

Indications: The Dusa Blu-U is a Non-Laser Flourescent Blue Light Source which is used in Light Therapy in conjunction with Levulan to treat patients with Actinic Keratoses.  General treatment for Dermatological indications and treatment of Moderate Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris.

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www.dusapharma.com