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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2.9
185
5
14.1%
4
24.3%
3
25.4%
2
13%
1
23.2%

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May 10, 2011

Pros:

-makes skin smooth
-somewhat shrinks pores

Cons:

-worse acne!!!!
-painful
-swell up like a balloon times 10

i dont know when or if i will ever get my face back! I wish i never went through with this. i was honestly desperate. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE learn from my mistake and dont do this!!!!!! i was told that after my face peeled i would be left with beautiful skin... however, i was left with worse acne then before and i never thought that was possible. AND THEY HURT MORE THAN EVER!! i did this treatment 2 weeks ago and went in today for a follow up... i basically got an "oh" from the doctor. The first couple days i couldnt even look at myself in the mirror. i probably got a million whiteheads all over my face and didnt even recognize myself from the swelling. i couldnt even open my eyes all the way!!! I would recommend something that works from the inside out like anti-biotics. Please stay away from levulan and blu-u!!!!
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April 10, 2011

Pros:

reduced oil production temporarily

Cons:

-can't be outdoors at all the next day
-long downtime
-severe breakout
-redness

I signed up to get 6 treatments of this, but was only able to get 4 because I reacted so badly to the fourth. My face burned so much the week of my recovery and it was just so unbearable I had to go on pain medication. My skin scabbed horribly and started breaking out more than how I initially started. It took about 2 good months before the pain completely went away. Now, 7 months after, my skin is still extremely red and scarred from the cystic acne it caused me.
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December 1, 2010

Pros:

none

Cons:

expensive, didn't work

I had 6 treatments consisting of levulan with the blue light after. Before hand the ascetician performed microdermabrasion and extractions. With all this there was NO IMPROVEMENT whatsoever.
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October 21, 2010

Pros:

Helped with hyperpigmentation a little

Cons:

Downtime
Cystic breakouts
Tiny bumps under the skin

I went to a top derm in Beverly Hills and paid for a set of 5 treatments followed by V-Beam laser spaced one month apart each. My skin has been getting worse since the start to the end of these treatment. I had mild acne and would now consider it moderate with some cysts. The doctor convinced me to keep going, but now after spending the money and the time, I regret doing it. This can work wonders on some, but to others it can be a big mistake, there really is no way to know. I followed all of the guidlines and was left with worse acne. PDT, in my opinion should be used as a last line of defense. It you haven't tried antibiotics and creams yet, try them before doing this. I did a round of V-Beam a few years ago and then again with the PDT and it really smooths out skin texture. Try the V-Beam with Smoothbeam laser first it was cheaper and the results were much better!!!!!
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August 23, 2010

Pros:

Skin felt soft and smooth in the third and forth week

Cons:

expensive
have to stay in a dark room for three full days
uncomfortable - feels like a BAD sunburn

I have struggled with ance for 14 years. I finally decided that I wanted to put an end to it. I got a Levulan treatment done 5 months ago. The first three days I had to black out ALL the windows. Even the little bit of light coming in from the windows made it burn. After the "sunburn" went away (two weeks) my skin felt really soft. I had started feeling really good. Around two months my skin starting get more acne. Then it got worse. I started getting MORE ACNE then I had before the Levulan. It also changed the type of acne. I use to have small red bumps that went away fairly fast. Now I have CYSTIC ACNE. I have WAY MORE ACNE. The acne all groups together and stays under the skin.
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April 6, 2010

Pros:

skin less oily

Cons:

Stings, makes your face look like a tomato for a week, have to hide from light like a vampire.

I have been battling 1 to 2 cystic acne on my chin per month mostly and the occasional one on my nose, but after having this treatment done 2 weeks ago I have 5 or 6 on my chin and 2 on my nose! My skin is dry and still stings too. I had Levulan put on my face, then IPL, then blu u, then came back and had blu u again week 2. Now a week later my face is a war zone! Worse than before - it seems like this was a waste of money - I am going back to my doctor this week - have been on Doxycycline and retin-A for 3 months with no luck. Booooooo.
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March 24, 2010

Pros:

helped skin for a little bit after painful downtime

Cons:

do not get this done i paid almost a thousand dollars and it didn't work at all. It is veryyy painfull and there is alot of downtime and redness and soreness. Since i hav got it done it has been about 4 months and it made my acne A LOT worse and more oily even tho its suppose to do the opposite. My face is also constantly dry now which is also very annoying

Do not blow your money on this procedure it is not worth it and in my case made my acne worse and irritated my skin. I do think that they are on the right track with the idea thought just have alot more research to do on what skin types it will work for and better techynology and types
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February 27, 2010

Pros:

Unfortunately, none really.

Cons:

My acne has gotten exceedingly worse. The reason I had this procedure performed was to eliminate several under-the-skin bumps I had. This procedure has given me so many more, in places I had never even had bumps before. It's to the point where people have been asking me what happened to my skin.

I understand that people will respond to treatments differently, but please be cognizant. Also, for anyone who faced similar, poor results like I did, are the damages irreversible, or did your skin get better? I am terrified that the damage is permanent. Please advise if you have any experiences with this. Thanks, I appreciate it.
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September 19, 2009
I had moderate acne, went for this treatment, spent 300, had to stay inside for an entire week, skin burned almost excrushiatingly while getting the blue light after the levulan, now, five weeks later my acne is worse than its ever been and i cant even cover it with makeup anymore. i guess everyone is different though. I am going to try acnepril.
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January 10, 2009

Pros:

none at all worse than ever,can't believe I fell for this mess

Cons:

ruined my skin has made it a total disaster,wasted a whole bunch of money and summer

If you like throwing your money and your time away go for it, I wouldn't do it again if someone paid me a million bucks, I am a 31 year old woman with a mess that noone knows what to do with I can't even look at people when I am talking to them my students even ask me what happened to my face or how I got this rash. hate eveything about the treatment
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