Photodynamic Therapy
Results
Side Effects

Photodynamic therapy is a more intense form of light therapy that includes first topically applying a photosensitizing agent that makes the skin more...

Photodynamic therapy is a more intense form of light therapy that includes first topically applying a photosensitizing agent that makes the skin more sensitive to light, and then applying medical-grade light therapy to the skin. It is thought to work primarily by reducing the size and activity of skin oil (sebaceous) glands.

The procedure is usually performed multiple times (up to 5) in weekly or biweekly intervals. Results are usually seen 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure and your skin will continue to improve after your last session.

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Compare To Other Treatments
5
14.1%
4
24.3%
3
25.4%
2
13%
1
23.2%

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October 27, 2008

Pros:

Brighter Skin

Cons:

Awful painful peeling effect (Doctor said about 50% chem peel equivalent) I speculate it may have been in result of using Tazorac prior to the PDT and there was no burn on nose or forehead (where I don't use tazorac).

Still a new procedure and certain products aren't compatible with the Levulan I think. I had pixel treatment and no problems.
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October 23, 2008

Pros:

It works

Cons:

price and red skin for a couple days (but it is worth it because this works)

My daughter was on many different antibiotics and topicals for bad acne for over four years. The doctor told us it would take two to three treatments for the PDT to work. After the first treatment, we could see a big improvement in her skin and couldn't wait to do the next one which made her skin look even better. We bought a blue/red light (Nature Bright Clarity), to keep the acne from coming back until the final treatment, but that is clearing up what is left, so I don't think we will need the third PDT treatment. She will continue to use the blue/red light to keep the acne from coming back.
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October 4, 2008

Pros:

helped with sundamage, pigmentation & pre-cancer spots

Cons:

48 hr indoor price

i really liked how it affected my skin. I am saving up for another treatment!
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September 29, 2008

Pros:

Not as many side effects as Accutane

Cons:

Could not get in light for 2 days, severe peeling and redness.

This treatment was extremely expensive and did not work for me at all. I have had acne for over 30 years and taken Accutane 3 times, it wears off, so I was looking for a treatment with less severe side effects and more permanent results. Two months after treatment my skin is just as oily and prone to break-outs as before treatment started. I had 4 treatments over the course of 4 months. Also, before each treatment I had a microdermabrasion, as my doctor said it would make the treatment more effective. The only lasting effect it has had is that now my skin is very sensitive to products that I could use before the laser treatment. This was a waste of money and not covered by my health insurance.
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September 14, 2008

Pros:

Gives you a new layer of skin

Cons:

Redness, iritation, pealing of the skin for several days. cant be outside for 48 hours.

This is day three for me after getting the treatment... and right now i wish i would have never done it. My face is very red and sensitive and im pealing all over. But, hopefully in the next few days it will be gone or at least better than it is now.
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August 16, 2008

Pros:

I got a free bottle of oil-free sunscreen with my procedure. Yippee. Other than that, Pretty much no pros.

Cons:

Expensive, painful burning during procedure, cannot go out for 48 hours, minor peeling/flaking for about 1-2 weeks after, sensitized skin, minimal results.

It's been about a year since I started this treatment. I had six treatments in increments of 2-3 weeks. Like the others said, you need to stay inside for about 48 hours. I did not experience a lot of flaking and peeling in the days following the procedure, however my skin was very itchy and I had more breakouts than usual. My dermatologist said it would take six months after the last treatment to see the "full results" of the procedure. It's been six months and my skin looks exactly the same as before I started. No worse and no better as far as appearance. But much worse as far as sensitivity. I've never had sensitive skin, but now I can't even use the normal products I've always used to wash my face without burning, redness and irritation. Very disappointing. I would not recommend this to anyone, especially those on a tight budget.
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August 12, 2008

Pros:

Clears skin with as few as 2-3 treatments, as well as reduces shine and breakouts.

Cons:

Very painful, expensive, only of short term duration (Max. 2 years), downtime!!! (be prepared to remain isolated for a few days as your face may become really red and flaky.

If you have the money and convenience of having time to burn in isolation (1 week) and have tried many of the other options without success then this treatment is a must!
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August 9, 2008

Pros:

Brand new surface layer, Shrinks pore size, Effective in killing bacteria underneath the skin

Cons:

At least a week of hiding, chapped skin causes discomfort, annoyance

I got this treatment done a week ago and I sat with the Levulan on for two hours, washed it off, then spent 15 minutes in the light. My face felt as if it were on fire the first day and the second day I began to notice my face becoming increasingly harder to move (smile, eat). For the next week I was very annoyed by the sensation of having a layer of dead skin just sitting, chapped, on my face. When I say layer, I mean LAYER. All of it was dead. I waited anxiously for it to slop off and eventually it did. By one week after my face had done a 360. Red marks were gone, acne disappeared, and I finally had clear skin (plus or minus a few spots). Definitely more than I had expected reading the reviews posted here. I'm sure I'll have it done at least once more because I felt that the process was well worth the result for me. Make sure you're prepared for the side effects which can be extreme.
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August 8, 2008

Pros:

Great improvement in skin texture and number of breakouts.

Cons:

About a week dowtime and can be pretty painful, but definitely worth it!

I have had 3 levulan treatments. The first was Feb 08 and I had vibrodermabrasion prior to applying the levulan, and then levulan incubated for 1.5 hrs. 10 min under the blue light. The second treatment was a month later with only an hour of incubation and 10 min under the light. I had a very good result from this, but like most acne treatments it only treats the symptoms. After going back to my dermatologist after a couple months I just got another treatment but she also suggested taking liver support vitamins to help my liver metabolize my hormones because my acne is hormonal. Also, after being on liver support pills for a while I will start taking vitamin A once a day because my derm doesnt like accutane because its too chemically processed.
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August 1, 2008

Pros:

Will help kill bacteria and shrink sebaceous glands. Reduces scaring, and tightens skin. Reduces amount of active acne, prevents future breakouts

Cons:

48 hours swelling, stinging. Must stay out of sun for 48 hours.
If this is your first and you have sensitive skin ask for less time in incubation with Levulan and less time under blue light. My first visit was 40 min incubation, 8 min blue light

This treatment takes months to really be effective. Many of you have posted and are disappointed after your first treatment. Your skin does not even completely heal for 2-4 weeks, that is why they space the treatments out. Some people see results with as little as 3 treatments, others need more. You can expect to have swelling and stinging for the first 48 hours, after that peeling for several days. This all depends on your incubation period and time under the blue light. Ask for less of each if you are sensitive. After this the skin can break out, but that is why treatments are continued. Do not look at this as a quick fix, but a several month long process with a good deal of down time. You will not have any idea what the real results are until a month or so after your last treatment. That is why you need to go all the way through the treatments. I had one treatment done two years ago and did not like the results and stopped. Recently I had three treatments with great resu
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