Photo Dynamic Therapy

Acne is a painful and embarrassing skin condition that commonly plagues teenagers, but can affect many adults as well. Topical solutions can help to reduce the appearance of acne breakouts, but often do little to stop the condition underneath the skin, where it begins. Now, photodynamic therapy is available to treat acne, as well as precancerous lesions known as actinic keratosis. Photo dynamic therapy is also an appropriate treatment for skin rejuvenation for some patients.
What is Photo Dynamic Therapy?
Photo dynamic therapy combines a special topical agent with light therapy to produce the best possible results on the skin. Different types of light may be used during the treatment, which allow us to customize your procedure to your specific skin condition. Each treatment session takes just a few minutes to complete and patients may return to their daily schedules right away, although avoidance of the sun is recommended for at least 48 hours. Photo dynamic therapy is typically administered in a series of treatments to achieve the best possible results.
What does it treat?
Photo dynamic therapy is commonly used to address the following skin conditions:

• Acne and residual acne scarring
• Actinic keratosis
• Sun damage

Some patients will see acne go into remission for several months after photo dynamic therapy. In addition to its use as a facial procedure, this device can be used to treat the skin on the hands, arms, back and chest.
What is the procedure like?
A session of photodynamic therapy begins with the application of Levulan, the topical photosensitizing agent that enhances the results of the light therapy. Levulan is designed to be absorbed by the areas of the skin requiring treatment, directing the light pulses to those locations. Once the Levulan is applied, the patient is placed in front of the light device for just a few minutes while the treatment works. Some patients do experience mild burning or tingling during treatment, but these side effects usually subside within a minute or two after beginning the procedure.
What kind of results can I expect?
Many patients will experience 1-3 days of redness and peeling after their photo dynamic treatment session. Once the peeling is complete and the redness subsides, you will begin to see positive results from your procedure. Most patients will require a series of up to three treatment sessions to achieve desired results. However, once those results are attained, they can be very long lasting.

Photo dynamic therapy is one of the most effective treatments for even stubborn acne conditions today, as well as a host of other skin conditions and concerns. To find out if photo dynamic therapy is right for you, contact New Visage at 252-808-2NEW.