Photodynamic Therapy

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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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July 18, 2009

Pros:

Helped to clear skin.

Cons:

MUST stay inside for at least 24 hours, 48 is better.
Expensive

After reading reviews, a lot of the problems people have with this are a result of not staying COMPLETELY out of the sun for the recommended time. If you do that, after two days your skin will be back to normal. I stayed inside for a full two days after all 3 of my treatments and it did help.

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Abby

June 5, 2009

Pros:

Smoother skin, slight improvement in acne.

Cons:

Hyperpigmentation (streaks) where Levulan was applied. White skin where not aplied. Still breaking out :(
Was confined to house for 6 days

I am on day 10 of my first treatment. Was very painful-thankfully my dermo gave me Tylenol with Codeine. Turned tomato-red, and peeled for abut 3 days. Am still breaking out and am left with hyperpigmentation that I did not have before. Not to mention, I am still breaking out. :(

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maria

March 7, 2009

Pros:

first day of treatment looks promising. i can already see my acne
shrinking, lesions getting dried & clogged pores opening

Cons:

i hope its worth the pain & money well spent, we'll see since its my first tx so far. my face feels like getting burned under the blue light, like getting burned alive & not comparable to sunburn at all

after i finish my series of tx., i dont think i could go through the pain of these photodynamic treatment again. if i were given another choice, i would not have chosen these one. the excruciating burning pain like sensation experience will make u afraid of any light . i dont think it's worth it, but who knows, if it really works then it might be worth it after all.

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fender745

January 31, 2009

Pros:

Sum of the scars on my cheecks went away on the first week of the treatment

Cons:

Gotta stay indoors for 48 hours, redness, peeling, whiteheads come to the surface

I think most patients who get this done judge too quickly on the first treament which has more cons then pros, but it i trust u that that all switches after 2 more treatments since this process requires it. dont be discouraged from the first treament like i was and give up. im happy i stayed with it cuz my skin already looks way better than b4

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depressed from acne

January 13, 2009

Pros:

Im only on my 2nd treatment so Im hoping 3 treatments will help me.

Cons:

the first 48 hours if you even take one step into the sun it feels like your face is on fire, your face breaks out with a million little white heads (its disgusting) your face is VERY red, and about day 3 your face feels so tight & dry it itches BAD!

Im on day 3 of my 2nd treatment & Im very sad. My face broke out with a million lil whiteheads its just depressing to even look at myself. I know its supposed to bring everything to the surface first so Im trying to stay positive about it & hopefully it will get better. Its embarrassing to go to work. I wish I was fortunate enought to get a week off work at least. After I finish all 3 treatments Ill be back to let you know my final results. My ratings are not quite accurate because I dont know what my final results are yet.

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Molly

January 12, 2009

Pros:

It works, Big improvement on first treatment

Cons:

Feeling super self concious of going out in public. The week long recovery period.

I am on day 2 of the second procedure. I will never do it again. I hope I won't need too. I broke out really bad 2 months after the first treatment and am praying this one works. Really painful.

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blackwoman34

December 21, 2008

Pros:

dryer skin, whiteheads have come to the surface

Cons:

hyperpigmentation, looks like someone spreaded mud on my face in streaks

I just had this procedure done on Thursday. I am awaiting some miraculous results. I have searched for information on the effects of this treatment on black skin, and I could not find anyone. That is why I listed my name as blackwoman34 because I want to be able to help someone else. Everyone's skin is different, but I sure would like to hear from someone who has severe scarring about the effects of this treatment on their skin. HELP!!!

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Jack Bennett

November 16, 2008

Pros:

My skin did a complete 360! few to no pimples, scarring decreased, less shiny and less oily.

Cons:

Downtime. The first day your skin is very red and burns! The second day is better, very very red but doesnt burn as much and will start to feel stiff. The third day your skin will peel and is uncomfortable but not unbearable. But it gets better!

Improved my incessant acne. I'm on the second day of my second treatment. After the first treatment, my skin had already improved significantly! I mean, 0 to 1 pimples at max compared to 10-12. Hopefully this will be my last treatment. The recovery is quite umcomfortable and unsighly, but it definetely worth the cost and recovery time. Plus my medical insurance covers nearly half of the treatment

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Jen

November 15, 2008

Pros:

not to sure yet. I got it done yesterday and dont see any results yet except only a few pimples are smaller in size.

Cons:

LOTS of embarrassing redness. face is more swollen today than it was yesterday. Have read a lot of bad reviews and im worried that it wont work on me.

I used to tan alot with artificial light and only recently (2 yrs. ago) have begun to develope a lot of acne which I believe is largely due to tanning (oily tan lotion plus UV light are not a great combo, heat and opened pores plus all that lotion is what I believed has caused these insane breakouts.) decided on levulan but i am now afraid because of the bad reviews. I see more negative responses than positive so I am constantly praying to the "Acne Gods" to have mercy on my face =)

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acneguru85

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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