Photodynamic Therapy

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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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HammerFace

May 10, 2012

Pros:

- False Hope?
- Not sure yet

Cons:

- 4 weeks straight of Breakouts.
- New whitehead showing
- Old cysts coming up
- Redness
- Excessive Flaky Skin

So this is the procedure, 1st week: levulan Treatment.. next 2 weeks: Care. and then back on levulan for the repetition of three times. I just got my second Levulan treatment yesterday (week four).. and from what i read on the review i'm trying to avoid the sunlight for a week by wearing a mask..even at work.. My co-workers thought i was some kind of robber.. anyway.. My doc said this is just because i had so much infections stored in my skin (lower jaw specifically) and that the levulan is literally pulling all the acne from deep within my skin.. hopefully it's all healed up by this week.. or i might go crazy.. stinging pains reoccurring now and then.. my doctor is also prescribing me drungs including procutane (weaker version of accutane i think) and some strong antibiotics.. i don't even think this is allowed.. but Korea is different i suppose.. anyways here's to hoping that this will get progressively better..

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Jabberwocky

December 28, 2011

Pros:

+ Initially less oil
+ Initially smoother, clearer skin
+ Did away with first signs of aging (slight crow's feet)

Cons:

- Oil slick returned
- Have had my third one and still BREAK! OUT!
- Expensive

This is an update to my original post about five months ago. I actually typed "AHA" instead of "ALA," but you all knew what I meant. :) When I went in for my third treatment, in my drug-induced haze (haha) I asked the doctor would I have to come back any more and unfortunately, I'm one of the lucky ones that this treatment apparently doesn't cure. I still break out with pus-filled lesions as well as cysts. The treatment and lasers the doctor used on me helped some to flatten an old raised Fraxel Re:store burn scar right under my jaw, but, as stated, I still break out. With these treatments running almost $700 a pop, I'm looking at new options. Even though this didn't work for me, I do encourage you to go for it IF you have the funds. Use all options available to you...just realize this may not be the end all be all. Current routine: using Glytone cleanser with a Clarisonic I received for Christmas. Received a new Tanda for Christmas as well. Started the Tanda and Clarisonic this week. Have been using Glytone for months. Trying a trick I heard about...Head & Shoulders shampoo. Been doing this for about a month. I think the zinc is supposed to help. Seeing a dermatologist now...back on spirolactone (for about a week now) after years of being off. Still on doxycycline and taking Vitamin C, lysine, and bromelain as supplements. Still on Ortho-Lo and using Retin-A. Although I'm still having some serious breakouts and major scarring, and I hate looking at myself and having others look at me, I am trying to stay positive and look forward to getting these breakouts under control so I can have my Fraxel Re:pair. I hope that's a godsend. My new dermatologist wants to use a Sciton (spelling?) laser treatment after we get a hold of my acne instead of Re:pair. Keeping fighting the fight and sharing your experiences. As hideous as I feel, I am stronger than most for going through all that I have. And so are you.

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koreana

October 20, 2010

Pros:

***It worked for a couple of months
***Have to stay in doors for 3 days and out of the sun for a week.
*** Skin was less oily

Cons:

*** Expensive
*** Down time
*** Skin builds immunity

I had around 7 of these procedures done in the 1.5 year time span. In the first couple treatments it worked miracles. I was no longer breaking out and the texture of my skin was so smooth. My fine lines and acne scars started to fade. After my 4th treatment my skin grew immune to the PDL treatment and returned to it's oily and moderate acne state. I tried 3 more times in a desperate attempt and it no longer worked on my skin. I spent so much money on the treatments and it left me hopeless. I saw an infomercial on MaxClarity and gave it a shot. I been using it for 3 months and it helped with my cystic acne and oily skin. It's a lot cheaper too!

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Ana Judy

July 9, 2010

Pros:

Acne reduction.

Cons:

Not sure yet

I just had Levulan Blu Light PDT on my face TODAY!!! I am 30 yrs old battling cystic acne since I was 15...Ive tried accutane 3x, antibiotics, tazarac, you name it, ive tried it...Accutane at ages 19, 21, 23 and yes, it cleared up my chest and back and forehead, and it worked while I was on it but it frigged up my eyesight!! but now at 30, my derm put me on aldactone 100mg a day bcz I get hormonal cysts on my cheeks and OUCH cortosone injections every month,( My prblem is hormonal and genetic bcz my mother had bad skin adn I break out BAD right before my menstrual period.) Well its time I took it up a notch so I read all your reviews and I started levulan blu light today..I have to do 3 more treatments, my last one will be on October 22. So I had the nurse clean my face with accetone, then she applied the stick of levulan and I "incubated" for 1 hr and 10 min and it stung and it burned and my face looked RED..then she put me under the blu light for 15min. It was burning but nothing crazy...I took a vicodine and she had a fan on my face the whole time. Right now i feel like I have a bad sun burn, they gave me some aquaphor and other anti itch ointment to put on, but I just did this today so I will keep everyone posted..I am soooo hopeful this will clear me up because I cried so much hoping this will work..15 years battling acne is not fun. It has taken a huge toll on me, emotionally. Wish me luck!!

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kate12345

June 2, 2016

How did your skin turn out?

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Mason26

September 29, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up tiny bumps all over my face

Cons:

Had to hide for a week, peeling skin, more whiteheads/breakouts, looked like a burn-victim

This is my first treatment, so it is hard to say what 3 treatments would be like. My face looks just as bad, if not worse than before. I am hoping it gets better within the next week. I am trying accutane.

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Sophie B.37

September 15, 2009

Pros:

It improves the scarring

Cons:

Very expensive + not very effective = me unhappy

I had 6 treatments with the levulan, and it improved pores, oilyness and scarring. However, I still break out, and in some areas even more severely than before I started the treatments one year ago. I know of a clinic that stopped offering Levulan because they found it was not very effective and I would have to say that they are good for doing this and not trying to suck money out of everyone. Sadly, IMHO avoid it, at least if you have moderate-severe acne.

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ericka

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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Ava Baker

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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gabsy

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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skinfighter44

January 26, 2009

Pros:

Just had my first, and perhaps only, treatment 4 days ago.

Cons:

I was not prepared for the severity of reaction: face looks scalded & initially swollen beyond description. 4th day: swollen but not misshapen; crusty scabs forming. Would like to hide but have to go to work. Not enough info given prior to treatment

I had several bouts of Efudex treatment for AK's and it works, but there's a week to 10 days of face looking like hamburger meat. So dermatologist said this was the better way to go. Was told "some" people experience redness. Since my face didn't appear red right after the treatment I thot I would escape this side effect. Holy cow! Was I surprised! So, the verdict is not yet in for me. If the treatment does all it's supposed to do...well, maybe it's a good thing but patients really need to be better prepared for the side effects.

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