Acne.org Products
Phototherapy
Acne.org’s Real World Take
PDT as it’s called is an incredibly painful procedure, but one that may produce lasting results. It’s a less invasive option than isotretinoin for severe acne that doesn’t cause so many potentially lifelong side effects. However, it works by permanently disabling skin oil glands, and what happens long term when you do that remains unknown. Proceed with caution.
Phototherapy
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this procedure done. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Photodynamic Therapy? Rate It:
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August 16, 2008
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.
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
July 28, 2008
Pros:
Skin texture improved, smoother skin in spots. The rougher areas have little oil plugs that are working their way out. This could take weeks to do and seems to be contributing to acne despite 3 treatments. Overall, my skin looks better.
Cons:
Extremely painful. Had it applied to raw skin. Incubated from 3-7hrs. Stick head into blue light tanning booth for as long as you can stand. Feels like a thousand burning needles being stabbed into your face. You can feel your face swell in 2 min.
If you have the time and money to do it--do it. I tried Accutane--became less oily, but didn't clear up skin very well. I've tried using antibiotics for 3 yrs (really bad for liver), but it helped keep things under control. It's been about a month since my 3rd treatment and my skin still breaksout, but I'm hoping that these are the last few plugs working their way out for good. It's like getting a chemical peel and then getting a deep burn. You will look like a burn victim for a few days. It hurts and feels tight and itchy. You want to peel it off, but if you do it too soon, your skin will be too raw and your face will just get tight, like a contracture in burn victims. Just let the burn sit and fester. It actually removed an age spot on my face, but it gave me a really dark little mole. I think that the treament is supposed to do this (bring up moles). I have heard that I won't have acne for a year. I hope this is true.
July 11, 2008
Pros:
My face was much smoother after it peeled after the first treatment. Then I did breakout a week later. My insurance actually covered this treatment because the acne I get is very painful.
Cons:
My face was so red and swollen, and I had to stay inside for 2 days, use ice, and advil.
I am 27 and have had acne on and since high school. For some reason, I've been getting these really painful breakouts for the last two years. I've tried everything possible for my acne since high school, and nothing works. I was so tired of going to dermatologists and just getting all the creams, washes, different types of pills and accutane. Nothing worked. I regret ever trying accutane b/c I wasn't aware of all the side effects. I actually became extremely depressed from it and it didnt' work. I even have tried the food elimination method, and I did find that chocolate makes me breakout very badly. I couldn't pinpoint any other food though. I do think that food plays a big part in acne, so I'm currently trying the raw food diet. I've been on it for 2 weeks, and my face seems to be clearing up. So the raw food diet might be playing a big part in the clearning up of my acne too.
June 24, 2008
Pros:
Breakouts have decreased, skin looks smooth and evenly toned, great so far
Cons:
Look like crap for 4-6 days. But its worth it.
I battled with acne for about 9yrs now, Ive seen friends acheive great results, decided to try it and all is going well going on my 3 treatment on sat. If you can handle the discomfort of looking like crap for 5 days Id say go have the treatment. I prefer to look like crap for 6 days then to have years of acne on my face. The least i can do is tell everyone my experience in hopes of helping others. PROCESS - I have a microderm first, then the application is applied and left on for 40 mins then under the light for 15 mins. I get them every two weeks, I plan on getting 1 more after this week. Hope this helps.
April 22, 2008
Pros:
-cleared some acne
Cons:
-expensive
-sensitive to sunlight for 4 months.
-created new acne
Before i had this treatment i had very localized acne all around my mouth and chin.The rest of my face was flawless. I had 4 treatments spaced 3 weeks apart of the PDT. These treatments cleared the acne around my mouth and chin. But now i have acne all over my cheeks, jawline, and forehead where i never had acne before. So far me my acne just cleared in one place but then sprouted up in another. However i would recommend giving it a shot IF money is not a factor for you. If money is then dont blow all your money for something that may not work.
March 30, 2008
Pros:
Improved acne, smoother skin (have done micro-dermabrasion with each treatment), when I do get breakouts they clear up much faster!
Cons:
Stinging (mild to severe), Peelings - can be severe, appearance for about 1 week after between redness and peeling, and being unable to go outside or be in bright lights for 48 hours
The treatment is costly and not covered by my insurance. There are no guarantees for how long the results will last - but at least it will get me through my wedding! I have had 4 treatments (just had the 4th yesterday) and my skin has continually improved. The peeling can be severe which makes it hard for me to be comfortable in public during the week after treatment. Follow your doctor's guidelines and you should be fine :-)
January 10, 2008
Pros:
Worked 100%
Cons:
Have to do it every month and kinda expensive
I have been trying acne treatment products for about 5 years. I tried everthing from benzoyl peroxide to antibiotics. many combinations of those treatments, helped reduce acne by about 10%. The most effective control back then was through a very strict and annoyingly painful diet (free of all fats and sugars) and stress control. But after I tried phototherapy with Levulan, for the first time in years I have a clear skin. It kills all active acne instantly and prevents future outbreak by slaughtering all the remaining acne bacteria in the skin. I have been acne free for 3 months now. The only drawback is that its expensive and has to be repeated every month. Do to extreme photosensitivity after the treatment, I usually stay home the next day. I think thats not too bad :).
August 27, 2007
Pros:
dont know yet
Cons:
fear of the unknown, redness
Had my PDT 2 days ago. Did not feel any discomfort, the most is during acetone application. i got the treatment as a bonus from 7 months of unsuccessful laser treatments. im on my 48th hour Im not feeling anything. Im seeing some redness but not the redness i expected so im thinking its not working. My skin still feels oily, have some small breakouts, no peeling.I feel the MD recommendation failed again. They gave me 1 bonus treatment if follow-up is needed ,I have to pay 500.00 per treatment. Still hoping somthing good is going to happen
June 23, 2007
Pros:
Works, has side effects but they are short term (as opposed to things like Acutane), reduces red marks.
Cons:
It requires more than one treatment (no matter what they tell you), requires you to stay of the sun for a while, and it's pricey.
It works by destroying the bacteria and infection that forms underneath the skin, while also partly regulating the oil production. The problem is that it requires more than one treatment because the infection can just keep spreading (remember, the is no "cure" to acne, only ways to contain and control it and this is no exception) if you don't do enough treatments. It won't be a miracle cure but it'll help a lot. The negatives are that it has downtime and it can also make your skin very red. It can also cause hyperpigmentation. You have to have the "right" type of skin and this is something to become informed about before you do it. Whatever you do, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE stay out of the sun for AT LEAST two days. The damage from the Levulan combined the sun's light can be horrible.
Pros:
I got a free bottle of oil-free sunscreen with my procedure. Yippee. Other than that, Pretty much no pros.