Levulan, together with Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy
Photodynamic therapy, is a form of phototherapy involving light and a photosensitizing chemical substance, used in conjunction with molecular oxygen to elicit cell death. PDT has proven ability to kill microbial cells, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. PDT is popularly used in treating acne. It is used clinically to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including wet age-related macular degeneration…
What to expect during blue light treatment?
What to Expect during Blue Light Therapy
- Preparation. Blue Light therapy by itself requires no specific preparation. ...
- The Procedure. Each treatment session lasts anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. ...
- Side Effects and Recovery. Blue Light therapy requires no down time. ...
- Results and Maintenance. After the treatment, you may notice fewer breakouts. ...
How long does blue light treatment take?
Treatment sessions can be anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes long, depending on the area being treated, how large it is, and if a topical medication has been applied. If it’s just one small area being treated, like a single spot of skin cancer, the affected area will have blue light applied to it for about 17 minutes.
Is the blue light treatment an overall skin peel?
The light used is a natural violet or blue light, and it’s considered to be an alternative treatment. Blue light therapy can only treat areas that the light can reach. So it’s typically used to treat conditions present on, or just underneath, the surface of the skin.
How is blue light therapy performed?
How Is Blue Light Therapy for Acne Performed by Dr. Mulholland? A blue light therapy treatment involves a series of intense blue lights applied to the area requiring treatment. Any acne, spots, freckles, or hyperpigmentation will be evaporated or absorbed by the heating light. Unlike traditional laser treatment, blue light therapy penetrates ...
What does blue light therapy do for your face?
Blue LED light is most often used to treat acne. It may do this by reducing activity in the sebaceous glands, so they produce less of the oil that can plug the hair follicles, leading to acne. Blue light may also kill acne-causing bacteria known as Cutibacterium acnes.
How long does it take to recover from blue light therapy?
It usually takes about two to six weeks to fully heal after PDT, depending on the area of your body that's being treated.
How effective is blue light therapy for skin cancer?
On average Blue Light Therapy eliminates 40% to 75% of Actinic Keratosis per treatment. At Siperstein, we will often pretreat thicker precancerous lesions to achieve a higher cure rate. The most common areas that we treat are the face, ears, and scalp.
How many sessions of blue light therapy does it take to see results?
The number of treatments required depends on the person's skin type, the number of lesions they have, and how severe those lesions are. Anywhere between two and five sessions are necessary, at 2-4 week intervals, for optimal results. Some people may notice results after a single session.
What does your face look like after photodynamic therapy?
What does the skin look like after treatment? The treated area of the skin is usually quite red and may appear to be flaking or peeling, as it would after a mild sunburn. The redness, and perhaps some of the flaking, can last for several days to a week or even two weeks. (After that, skin returns to normal.)
What should I avoid after photodynamic therapy?
Again, you should avoid all direct sun exposure for 48 hours after your PDT light treatment. During the 48 hours after your PDT light treatment you may experience redness, swelling, and stinging of your treated skin, similar to the reaction that you might have with a bad sunburn. Your skin may feel hot.
Does Blue Light Therapy remove age spots?
Blue light treatment is most often used as part of a treatment called photodynamic therapy. This therapy can treat some kinds of skin cancer and precancerous spots known as actinic keratoses.
What is the cost of blue light therapy?
The cost of blue light acne therapy ranges from $40 for a single treatment to about $1,000 to $1,500 for a full treatment package, including several weekly sessions.
How do I get rid of precancerous cells on my face?
How is actinic keratosis treated?Cryotherapy. This treatment freezes the lesion.Topical chemotherapy. This is medicine applied to the skin.Laser surgery. This can remove lesions from the face and scalp, and actinic cheilitis from the lips.Other treatments. These are done to remove or destroy the lesion.
What should you put on your face after blue light treatment?
If the treated area is on your face, wear a wide-brimmed hat. After 48 hours (2 days), continue to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 on the treated area. If a scab forms on the treated area, don't remove or pick at it. Apply a moisturizer such as Aquaphor®, Vaseline®, or Cetaphil®.
How long does your face stay red after blue light treatment?
6. Redness and swelling may last up to 4 weeks after your Blu-Light treatment.
How do I take care of my skin after photodynamic therapy?
Avoid exposure to the sun and bright indoor lights for 48 hours. Ice packs & cool compresses: If you have any discomfort, begin applying ice packs or cool compresses (water soaked paper towels) to the treated areas. Apply these compresses frequently and use a light lotion, moisturizing cream, or Vaseline afterwards.
What to expect during treatment
Levulan is applied to the skin after a cleansing process for a variable amount of time deemed to be most appropriate for your condition.
After Care Instructions
After the procedure, go home and take it easy. The treated area will appear reddish and swollen. Some mild discomfort after the procedure is possible.
Where can I find levulan?
These cells can be precancerous and are commonly found on your face, lips, ears, the backs of your hands, forearms, scalp and neck. Levulan is a light activated topical solution used in combination with and Blue Light therapy to treat Actinic Keratosis.
What is a levulan kerastick?
What is Levulan Kerastick and how does it work with Blue Light to treat Actinic Keratosis? Actinic Keratosis, is a rough, scaly patch of skin that typically develops from years of sun exposure.
What happens when you put levulan on your scalp?
When aminolevulinic acid, the active ingredient in Levulan Kerastick, is applied to the skin or scalp, the medication builds up in the cells, which then make the cells sensitive to light. When these cells are exposed to blue light, the cells are then destroyed. How will the procedure work?
How long does Levulan last?
The Levulan and Blu-U Blue Light treatment’s results last for at least four months after treatment, and individuals may return for more treatments if necessary. Acne should never have to be a way of life.
How long does it take for levulan to saturate?
Then, the individual receiving the treatment will wait about an hour or two to allow the Levulan to saturate deep into the skin.
How long can you stay out of the sun after photodynamic therapy?
Acne Treatment in Los Angeles. After the Levulan Photodynamic Therapy, individuals are cautioned to remain out of sunlight for at least 24-48 hours. This is because the skin is extremely sensitive to light during recovery time.
Risks
- As with any medically significant procedure, photodynamic therapy (PDT) carries its own profile of advantages and risks. Many patients and skin care professionals prefer the noninvasive nature of Blu-U light therapy with Levulan, which largely avoids the infection exposure and other complicat…
Uses
- Levulan is suitable for many patients suffering from actinic keratoses (a precancerous growth) and early-stage basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas.
Treatment
- Depending on the nature and location of the affected areas, the attending dermatologist might anticipate discomfort by proactively applying a topical anesthetic cream. For a few patients, facial nerve blocks might be more appropriate.
Diagnosis
- A week to ten days should reveal any improvement, but each patient is different. The attending dermatologist can answer any questions about individual cases. Sometimes, significant improvements may not show clearly until after several sessions.
Prognosis
- Results vary widely among patients. Some patients may experience a recurrence after six months, and other patients may see years go by without further problems. Each individual case must be evaluated and monitored during regular visits with a board-certified dermatologist.
Cost
- Since this is a medically necessary treatment for skin cancer or precancerous growths, your insurance should cover at least a portion of the cost, making this an affordable procedure. We will help you look into your coverage to help you make the best choice for you.
Contraindications
- Levulan-assisted photodynamic therapy is not for everyone. Certain types of skin cancer, like melanoma, should not be treated with Levulan and PDT. Porphyria patients, patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus and individuals who are allergic to porphyrins, aminolevulinic acid or certain other medications may require alternative treatment methods. Individuals who ar…
Side effects
- Post-session side effects for treated areas may include skin-color changes, redness or swelling, bleeding or blistering, scaling or crusting of affected areas and itching or stinging sensations. A burning or stinging sensation that persists for longer than four weeks should be reported to your dermatologist. More rarely, Levulan may evoke a strong reaction in a few individuals. Patients ex…
Results
- To learn more about this therapy, please contact us for a consultation. During this time, we will go over your medical history and answer your questions to set up a personalized skin cancer treatment plan.