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Before PDT treatment

Patient Before Photodynamic Therapy
for Pre-Cancers:

  • The sun can cause splotchy red pigmented areas called actinic keratoses. These areas are at higher risk for changing to skin cancers.
Before PDT treatment

Before Photodynamic Acne Treatment:

  • Note the redness and Acne bumps which had not responded to other forms of treatment.
PDT treatment results

Patient after PDT:

  • There is a significant decrease in the splotchy areas as well as an overall tightening of the skin..

Before PDT treatment

Acne Patient after PDT:

  • Patient after 2 treatments with laser activated photodynamic therapy. Note the decreased inflammation and improvement in acne!

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR ACTINIC KERATOSIS:
 Actinic Keratoses, if left untreated, can change to basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas. Usually, AKs are treated with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery) or with topical drugs such as 5-flourouracil. If a patient has extensive AKs, cryosurgery is impractical. Many patients do not tolerate 5-fluoruracil well.

An alternative is PDT, a new therapy using a light activated drug, 5-alpha amino levulinic acid. The Kerastick Levulan is applied to the skin, allowed to absorb for one hour and then activated with a Blu-U light for about 16 minutes. Most patients feel as if they received a sunburn.

After treatment, patients must stay away from light (sunlight, tanning devices, intense lights) for 48 hours. Usually the inflammation peaks at 48 hours post treatment. Redness may last for 1 – 2 weeks but typically resolves faster than the rash from topical 5-flourouracil or imiquimod treatments. After a couple of days, most patients’ skin will peal leaving a rejuvenated skin with a significant reduction in actinic keratoses.

Almost 100% of our patients are very pleased with the result. Some believe they look 10 years younger. From our medical point of view, we’re pleased to see healthier, less sun damaged skin!

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR ACNE
 is a cutting edge therapy which utilizes a light activated drug, Levulan, to treat moderate to severe acne which is resistant to other forms of treatment.

Candidates for this treatment include patients who do not wish to use Accutane. Levulan is applied to the skin and incubated for about an hour. The Levulan is activated by V-Beam laser or the Blu-U light. Three or more treatments may be required.

Since this treatment is under study but not yet approved by the FDA for acne, it is considered a cosmetic procedure and is not paid for by health insurance. Cost is usually in the $400-$500 range per treatment.

When you have skin problems, call us. We can care for your skin. Rhode Island Dermatology and Laser Medicine
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(401) 521-7300
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