1 reply to this topic

[f_gonzalez]

So...i am considering getting the PDt with levulan treatment soon. I have been doing a little bit of research and cant decide if its worth trying. there are so many mixed reviews and stories about acne even getting worse following the treatment. So i am kind of on the fence about it right now. any comments, advice will be helpful. Thanks!

[blacksheiladog]

So...i am considering getting the PDt with levulan treatment soon. I have been doing a little bit of research and cant decide if its worth trying. there are so many mixed reviews and stories about acne even getting worse following the treatment. So i am kind of on the fence about it right now. any comments, advice will be helpful. Thanks!

If you are having moderate to severe acne, this treatment may help minimize breakouts.

What you need to know is:

1) The Doctor's track record-- ask lots of questions and get second opinions and see photos of before and after for prior patients experiences. Ask if you can speak with patients who had this. Most are willing to discuss this to help others.

2) What are this doctor's procedures-- the treatment specifics (i.e., how long they leave the levulan on your face, use of acetone, how long under the light, whether they do microdermabrasion as part of it or not)

3) Does the Doctor supervise or hand you off to a tech?

4) What is the course of treatment (i.e., 1 time only, a series of treatments, etc).

My daughter had this treatment, and it was very hard on all of us, but I believe worth it. She had the microdermabrasion first, then the levulan and then the light. It hurt a lot, and she peeled extensively for many days (you are basically unable to go out in public for 6 days if you get the most extensive treatment, fewer days with less intense treatments).

Following this procedure, she continued to break out for about a month, but it cleared and she is doing well now. Each time she gets about 8 months of clearing. We are still hopeful her acne will eventually decline, as she approaches age 22. She is also doing the blue light treatment I discuss on the Internet Alternatives to Expensive Clearlight Treatment thread and I think it is helping. (read that for more on this).

I also believe this levulan treatment is one part of an overall plan, and you should take steps after this treatment to keep the acne at bay. We are investigating blue light devices as another tool in this fight. You need to discuss this with the doctor as well.

I researched a lot before we did this. I could not find any long term dangerous effects from this, but it should be remembered that it is currently not FDA approved for acne, but is approved for cancer removals, so if the Levulan had any significant side effects, I don't think the FDA would allow its use... but they also told people living downwind from the 1950s atomic tests in Nevada that the glowing dust in their yards was no problem....

I believe this should be considered for people with cystic acne that may cause scarring, and for those who may otherwise have to use accutane. She has had three of the extensive treatments (with microderm), one each year for the last three years. Each time she said she would not do it again, but when her acne started to get a bit out of control, she went again. It's a tough experience if you have a "deep" treatment. Others have reported much less severe reactions and minimal peeling, which probably is the case if you do not do the microderm.

There are a few excellent threads on experiences with this, and you should scan the Light/Laser treatment forum for much more.

Best of luck
-Dan