Clear Age Spots/melasma/acne

Before                                 After     

Advantages of Photodynamic therapy:

 

For Diffuse AK:

• It is easier for patients than liquid nitrogen, 5-FU, or Aldara because it is virtually painless, the side effects are minimal, there is a quick recovery time, and few treatments are necessary.
• There is reduced scarring and improved cosmetic outcome compared with other treatment modalities. It treats the whole area rather than just spot treating lesions, Resulting in clearance of subclinical lesions and prolonged remission.  

• It has both medical and cosmetic benefits.

For Acne:  

 

• With short incubation, it is painless-teenagers love that.
• It improves compliance-teenagers often don’t use their creams or take their pills.  
• No oral medications such as antibiotic or isotretinoin are necessary  
• It kills the acne bacteria as well as reducing sebaceous glands-the two things that cause acne.  
• It restores the skin integrity to a large degree, resulting in sometimes amazing improvement of not only acne but also acne scarring.  
• It can cause long-lasting remissions. 
• Please review our document “Photodynamic ALA Acne Treatment” for more information on acne.  

For Photorejuvenation:  

• It can reduce the number of PhotoFacial treatments needed.  
• You can take away precancerous cells, something that you cannot do with traditional photorejuvenation.  
• You can reduce the oiliness of sebaceous skin and reduce sebaceouos gland hyperplasia.  
• It can minimize pore size and improve texture irregularities.  
• Many patients see a reduction in fine lines.                                                      

BENEFITS OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Photodynamic therapy is an effective treatment for actinic keratoses, which can eventually turn into skin cancer.  Cryotherapy is not effective when the actinic keratoses are diffuse over a large area.  Topical chemotherapy can be used in such cases, but results in months of unsightly crusting.  Photodynamic therapy allows effective treatment of actinic keratoses over large areas in one or two treatments with very little side effects.  Photorejuvenation alone has already been effective in the treatment of rosacea, but by adding Levulan the treatments are more effective requiring fewer treatments.  Most patients notice an improvement in skin texture, reduced pigmentation from sun damage, fewer fine lines and an overall more youthful appearance. Treatments using photodynamic therapy for acne also yield good results.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY Patient with diffuse actinic keratoses, moderate to severe rosacea, moderate to severe sun damage, textural irregularities and/or acne are good candidates for Photodynamic Therapy with Levulan.   

WHO IS NOT A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY If you are pregnant, have been on Accutane within 3 months, or have an active cold sore you should not have this procedure.  If you are taking aspirin or blood thinners, you may experience some bruising that can take up to 2 weeks to resolve.  If you are tanned or have recently been exposed to the sun in the area you are having treated, you may be more susceptible to potential side effects such as blisters or crusts and/or your treatment may need to be reduced in intensity or postponed until the tan fades.  In addition, patients with pacemakers or internal defibrillators should not have this procedure.

 

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 be dramatically reduced. 

HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL IT TAKE TO SEE THE “BEST RESULTS”?

Achieving maximum improvement is greatly dependent on the protocol you select.  With a more aggressive protocol just one or two treatments are usually required.  If you select a less aggressive protocol it may require two to four treatments.  Treatments are usually spaced 3 – 5 weeks apart.  More treatments can be done at periodic intervals in the future to maintain the rejuvenated appearance of the skin.