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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185
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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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May 29, 2009

Pros:

none. I had two treatments and suffered all the side effects without seeing any improvement in number or severity of breakouts.

Cons:

the most painful treatment i've gone through ever.

after my first treatment i didnt see any improvement but was convinced by aestheticians to go ahead and get a second one because it often is needed to see results. On my second treatment levulan was left on my face longer because they thought it would penetrate deeper but that was a huge mistake. That whole night and part of the next day i was in intolerable pain that would not be helped by medications. I felt so bad i wanted to rip off my skin so it would stop burning. 3 days after the second treatment my whole face was covered with pimples small and big there was not 1 inch of clear skin. I was so dissapointed that this treatment cost me so much only to make my acne worse and painful. I went to 2 different dermatologists to help clear my skin and is now doing 90% better due to contraceptives. Thanks to what happened to me my sister decided not to get this treatment and many of my friends that saw the results.
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May 8, 2009

Pros:

It works really good, the number of pimples I wake up to everyday has reduced dramatically. However it takes a few treatments to see any significant results. But if you get 3 or more treatments it should clear a majority if not all of your acne.

Cons:

The price, it is very expensive.

If your desperate to get rid of your acne, save up for this. It works! It has helped my self esteem dramatically, it is well worth the price if you can afford it.
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April 24, 2009

Pros:

Noticed improvements over night! Very fast process.

Cons:

Too expensive. A little itchy.

Had Luvian on face for 15 minutes and blue light for ten minutes. Noticed acne decreasing over night. Pores and acne shrinking. Skin continues to heal everyday, even months after first treatment.
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April 19, 2009

Pros:

it shrinks my pores & acne scars. i just hope it will get rid of my acne completely.

Cons:

it's really painful while on the blue light like getting fried.even after the treatment face still burning hot. it's tolerable though if you take a pain killer like Vicodin 30 mins. before exposure to the light . dontime of at least 7 days.

it's seems effective especially if you have a lot of scars from acne. this is my second tx. less traumatic now because i had a strong pain killer.
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April 1, 2009

Pros:

In the long run, you can definately tell the difference. Went from Dark, beat red, to new, clearer looking skin. This product definately helps with acne scars.

Cons:

You do have to deal with quite a bit of redness (severity of redness depending on the patient). Redness usually lasts for about 3 days, and then immediately begins to peel.

Great product. Well affordable. Great Results!
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March 16, 2009

Pros:

It was an effective and quick way to get rid of a good amount of my acne all at once. I started only with very mild acne, and mostly just small bumps under the skin that bothered me.

Cons:

I had this procedure, the levulan with blue light and then the levulan with v-beam. The v-beam is not painless. It feels like someone snapping a rubber band against your face several hundred times.

My skin is very sensitive and the recovery was rough for me. My face swelled up severely, especially around the eyes for about 2 days. My face was ridiculously red for about 3 days and I peeled for about a week. All of it was uncomfortably and slightly embarrassing, but not unbearable. I saw results from my first treatment immediately, about 50% reduction in pimples and my pores looked smaller. After my second treatment, my acne was worse for a week or two and has now settled down. After the 2 treatments, my acne is probably about 80% better total. This treatment is very harsh on the skin, so only try it if you have tried everything else and nothing has worked. I only had very mild acne to begin with, but it was persistent. It seemed to help quite a bit and now i am used Obagi products to keep my skin clear. These treatments are VERY expensive but they can work for you. Remember to moisturize a lot after the procedure !!
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March 12, 2009

Pros:

My pimples kind of disapear.

Cons:

scarring still there,it is already 3 weeks and when i wash my face it feels all bumpy.My forehead has big brown spots ,

I am hopping that after a weeks o so my face star to clear i feel disapointed,like i ruined my skin is this the way to heal??? some body out there could give a clue.?
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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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March 3, 2009

Pros:

I am 21, and about a month after my third treatment of Blu-U/Levulan. The large painful whiteheads have decreased in size by 30% and frequency by 50%. Not much downtime for me, i have brown skin is why. Reduces the size of pores. Oil reduced by 30%

Cons:

Still getting large pimples they just come up slower and don't persist as much. Definitely do not go out in the sun, I went out like a moron and got burned nicely. Pricey for sure but in my opinion money well spent.

I hate to be negative but any pimples are bad and Im still dealing with pimples. I have heard that 3 treatments is minimum so I am planning to go for at least one more, I dont believe 6 is necessary but my skin never ceases to amaze me. I would most definitely recommend this treatment, it should reduce your acne at least by 30% minimum. Your scarring will definitely improve by probably over 50%, which is icing on the cake. You will face the usual onslaught of pimples during the months of treatment, but this time there is light at the end of the tunnel so keep your head up. Please, do not post a review if you have not had at least 3 treatments, you are wasting everyone's time. Acne will not go away in days, but months. I will be back with a final review. Good luck to you
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February 15, 2009

Pros:

I'm only on my second day of the treatment, and even though my face is about the color of a tomato, my scars have already started to disappear, and my skin is not oily at ALL. Every single pimple I've had has completely dried out.

Cons:

My face is about the color of a tomato and very mildly irritated.

I think it's definitely worth the slight discomfort, and I can't wait til the red fades, because I can already tell it's gotten better.
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The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
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