Burning/stinging, which could be severe, may last up to 24 hours after your BLU-U treatment Redness and swelling which may last up to 4 weeks after your BLU-U treatment Scaling/crusting which may last up to 4 weeks after your BLU-U treatment
Full Answer
What are the side effects of Blublu-U treatment?
BLU-U Treatment for Skin Cancer Overview & FAQs. After completion of a PDT session, some patients will experience light to moderate itching or tingling, prickling or stinging sensations in the affected areas. A few patients may experience a burning sensation, which typically fades away within 24 hours.
How long does a blue light treatment session last?
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.
What are the chances of successful Blu-U treatment for skin cancer?
The chances of a successful outcome with a minimum of side effects is greatest with a professional dermatology practice. The correct execution of Blu-U treatment for skin cancer is especially important.
How long does a Blu-U procedure take?
A Blu-U procedure only takes about 15 minutes and is not painful. There are minimal side effects, but one downside is that you'll have to continue getting the treatments if you want acne to stay away.
What does skin look like after blue light 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.) The area will also be more sensitive to light, so Dr.
How long does your face stay red after blue light treatment?
Redness and swelling may last up to 4 weeks after your Blu-Light treatment.
How long does redness last after photodynamic?
Erythema (Figure 1) and edema are the main phototoxic effects of PDT and develop in the treated area during and after light exposure [47]. The often severe erythema can be followed by crusting and generally resolves in 1–2 weeks (Figure 2).
How long does it take for photodynamic therapy to work?
It usually takes around 2 to 6 weeks for the area to heal completely, depending on which part of the body has been treated and how big the area is.
How many sessions of blue light therapy does it take to see results?
Follow-up sessions 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.
Will my face peel after PDT?
On the fourth through sixth days after your PDT light treatment your skin will start to peel.
How long does it take for blue light therapy to heal?
Side effects of blue light therapy Most people heal within 7 days, and the crusting resolves within 3 to 14 days. If light-sensitive drugs are used for photodynamic therapy, as is the case in most cases, your skin will be very sensitive to light for several weeks after the procedure.
How do I take care of my skin after photodynamic therapy?
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®.
What happens after PDT therapy?
Depending on the type and location of treatment, the treated skin might turn red and may swell for a period of time. With some treatments, blisters may form. This may last hours to days after treatment. The skin may also have a burning sensation or may be itchy or change color after treatment.
What do you do after blue light treatment?
Shower and wash the area immediately and as often as needed. Gently wash the area with soap and water two to three times a day, and apply Aquaphor or Vaseline to the area. Avoidance of harsh or abrasive cleansers is advised. Picking or scrubbing the skin could cause severe irritation or scarring.
Does photodynamic therapy remove brown spots?
Denver Dermatology Center offers three types of PDT treatment: Intense Pulsed Light Photodynamic Therapy (IPL-PDT) with BLU-U®: Treats brown spots, precancerous lesions, red capillaries, facial redness, rosacea, and acne. Also improves tone and texture while stimulating collagen production.
How long does it take to recover from PDT therapy?
How long does it take to recover from photodynamic 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 long does it take for swelling to go down after BLU-U?
Swelling may also occur. These changes should reach a maximum the day after BLU-U treatment. However, these changes are temporary, should improve markedly by the end of the first week, and should be completely resolved by 4 weeks after treatment.
How long does it take for a stinging scab to go away after a LU-U
The most common side effects are: Burning/stinging, which could be severe, may last up to 24 hours after your BLU-U treatment. Redness and swelling which may last up to 4 weeks after your BLU-U treatment. Scaling/crusting which may last up to 4 weeks after your BLU-U treatment.
How long does it take for levulan to absorb?
Levulan is allowed to absorb for approximately 60 minutes.
How long does it take for AK to clear?
Four-eight weeks after the first treatment, those AK lesions which do not completely clear may be treated a second time. In clinical studies, at 12 weeks after the first treatment or four weeks after the second treatment, about 90% of the patients had 75% or more of their treated AKs completely clear.
What are the side effects of a syringe?
The most common side effects include scaling/crusting, hypo/hyper-pigmentation, itching, stinging, and/or burning, erythema and edema. Severe stinging and/or burning at one or more lesions being treated was reported by at least 50% of patients at some time during the treatment.
What happens when AK cells are exposed to blue light?
When the AK cells are exposed to the BLU-U Blue Light Illuminator, a reaction occurs which destroys the AK cells.The 2-part treatment offers the following conveniences:
Can you take Levulan Kerastick with porphyrin?
Levulan Kerastick should not be taken by patients who have cutaneous photosensitivity at wavelengths at 400-450 nm, porphyria, or known allergies to porphyrins, and in patients with known sensitivity to any of the components of the Levulan Kerastick for Topical Solution.
Is Blu U painful?
The light therapy does not go deep enough into your skin to affect the normal tissue -- only the acne lesions it's targeting. The treatment itself isn't painful, although it could be slightly uncomfortable to have your face in a chin rest for 15 minutes.
Does Blu U help with keratosis?
Some experts have found that Blu-U can be helpful in eliminating actinic keratoses, a skin problem that results in scaly, dry patches of skin that range in size from a pinhead to a quarter. The condition results from sun exposure and can become cancerous in many cases. Recent studies have shown that treating actinic keratoses with blue-light therapy helps reduce the number of pre-cancer cells [source: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics ].
Can you use Levulan Kerastick on acne?
Levulan Kerastick is made of aminolevulinic acid and should only be applied directly to acne lesions that you have on your face or your scalp [source: Alai ]. Because it's photosensitive and is meant to react with the blue light, it will react on other parts of your skin if it gets on them accidentally. After using Levulan Kerastick, be sure to limit your sun exposure, as your skin is much more sensitive to the sun after being treated with the solution.
What is blu-u combined with?
Blu-U combined with Levulan (aminolevulinic acid) is called Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). Levulan is a chemical that increases the skin’s sensitivity to Blu-U (a photosensitizer). Think of Blu-U as a treatment option that takes the place of oral antibiotic therapy for acne. It is important to realize that topical acne products (topical antibiotics, ...
What is a levulan blu u?
Levulan-Blu-U for Acne. Levulan-Blu-U is visible light therapy that works by creating a chemical reaction in hair follicles to kill acne-related bacteria. Eight treatments are needed to reduce acne for an extended duration (but it is not a cure!). Blu-U combined with Levulan (aminolevulinic acid) is called Photodynamic Therapy (PDT).
How effective is PDT for precancer?
PDT is also very effective for the treatment of precancers called Actinic Keratoses (AKs) . Usually only one treatment is required to clear many AKs. These are most often located on the face and ears, but other common sites are the hands, arms, legs and feet. When Basal Cell Carcinomas are the “superficial” type and Squamous Cell Carcinomas are the “in situ” type, PDT is a good choice for therapy of these cancers. Approximately 3 to 7 days of redness and scaling follow a PDT session. Sun must be avoided on the day of treatment and the day after treatment.
What are actinic keratoses?
Actinic keratoses are red flaky spots caused by sun exposure. They are precancerous spots that, if left untreated, may develop into skin cancer.
What is Levulan photodynamic therapy?
Levulan photodynamic therapy is an effective treatment for extensive (numerous) actinic keratoses. The Levulan is a medicine that, when applied to an actinic keratosis, is absorbed by the abnormal cells in the actinic keratosis. The medicine is activated by a special blue light, which removes the abnormal cells of the actinic keratosis.
What will happen during and after treatment?
The first step in Levulan Kerastick photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) for actinic keratoses is application of the Levulan Kerastick topical solution to actinic keratoses. After it is applied to the actinic keratoses, you will remain in the office while the Levulan is absorbing into the skin.
Light sensitivity
After Levulan kerastick topical solution is applied to the actinic keratoses, you should avoid exposure of the treated actinic keratoses to sunlight or bright indoor light during the0 period prior to blue light treatment. If you feel stinging and/or burning on the actinic keratoses, exposure to light should be reduced.
How long after a keratosis treatment should you wear a hat?
Advise patients to wear a wide-brimmed hat or similar head covering of light-opaque material or a long-sleeved shirt and/or gloves to shade the treated actinic keratoses from sunlight or other bright light sources until at least 40 hours after the application of LEVULAN KERASTICK topical solution.
Can you use multiple treatment regions at once?
Multiple lesions can be treated within a treatment region, but multiple treatment regions should not be treated simultaneously. Do not apply to the eyes or to mucus membranes. Irritation may be experienced if LEVULAN KERASTICK topical solution is applied to eyes or mucous membranes.
How long does it take to recover from blue light therapy?
Most patients will be able to return to normal activities within 24 to 48 hours after therapy, and possibly even the same day of the treatment.
How long does it take for acne to heal after blue light?
The therapy usually consists of 4 to 8 sessions, and may need to be repeated every 3 or 4 months.
What are the side effects of blue light therapy?
The after effects of a Blue Light therapy session can be mild swelling, redness, dryness and tenderness of the treated area. Over the counter pain medications may be used, as well as ice packs for swelling and bland facial lotions or Vaseline for any dryness.
Can blue light therapy cause redness?
Blue Light therapy makes the skin more sensitive, and sun exposure could cause redness and irritation. Your doctor will probably ask you to wear sunscreen after the procedure and to stay indoors.
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…
Society and culture
- DUSA Pharma, the makers of Blu-U and the Levulan Kerastick, have before and after photos of patients treated for actinic keratosis. Many patients have shared their stories and photos on RealSelf.com, showing a 92% worth it rating from patients treated with PDT with Levulan for skin cancer.
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.