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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Compare To Other Treatments
5
14.1%
4
24.3%
3
25.4%
2
13%
1
23.2%

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January 23, 2013

Pros:

1st treatment - improved acne 10%
2nd treatment - improved acne 20%
3rd treatment - improved acne 40%

Cons:

5-7 days of redness like a sunburn
5-7 days of peeling
pain for the 1-2 days
expenses

overall good outcome
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January 5, 2012

Pros:

- Gets rid of acne
- Reduces oily skin
- Removes acne scarring and sun damage

Cons:

- Very painful
- Very red
- Peeling skin

I have recently had had the levulan activated acne treatment. I have underwent my second one out of four. The pain is the worst you can possibly imagine, Horrible, excruciating. I have had a 75% clearing and have two more treatments to undergo. I HIGHLY reccomend this treatment is defienently worth the price and is truly a cure for acne.
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July 23, 2011

Pros:

Less oil, smaller pores, smaller zits rather than cysts.

Cons:

Whiteheads galore, still breaking out (although give it at least 6 weeks for skin to thoroughly purge itself), downtime, Aquaphor -- ugh!

I've always had oily skin, large pores, and zits here and there but my skin exploded with cystic acne after a traumatic experience when I was 27. I've tried EVERYTHING under the Sun to cure the acne as well as repair the depressed and icepick scars that humiliate me. My last resort before I have a Fraxel Re:pair (this winter -- EXCITED!) was photodynamic therapy. The first time I had a PDT it involved a light microderm, followed by the AHA being applied and left to incubate for an hour. After that I sat for 15 minutes under a blue light. There was no pain, just a warm sensation -- like getting too much sun -- but I had a fan on my face to keep cool. Afterwards the doc shot me with an IPL (which hurt like heck even with Valium). The aftermath was that I had only a few whiteheads and I looked like I had a bad sunburn. I kept out of the sun for two days (medicine is still active), and kept Aquaphor on (yuck) until I went back a week later. Bottom line: I had slight flaking, but a definite decrease in oil all over but especially on my cheeks. My forehead was still kind of oily and my chin had a shine, but it wasn't as bad as it was. My pores were smaller, but I still broke out in small zits and whiteheads. I was told to give my face at least 6 weeks for it to completely purge itself. There was no change to the scars. I'm also still on antibiotics. This second time -- 3 weeks later -- the doc decided to do a light Fraxel Re:store before the PDT to work the medicine deep in my skin. So I had a microderm, numbing cream, Fraxel, then the PDT and IPL. I had this on Tuesday. Wednesday I had a TON of whiteheads. Now my face is really red and peeling like a snake from the Fraxel. I'm keeping Aquaphor on it until I go back next Tues. I have lots of raised red bumps and a few whiteheads. Little to no scar improvement (to me), but let's cross our fingers. What I want most is an end to this acne (as a 31 year-old woman!) and to smooth out the scars that disgust
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May 17, 2011

Pros:

face feels brand new in six days, looks great now, besides helping with my cystic acne it also cleared away some scares and pigment blemishes. My face wash regiment is now only one light product instead of three strong ones.

Cons:

6 days looking like hell, Slight discomfort, having to stay out of the sun (for long periods of time i.e. 2-6 hours at a time) for around 7 weeks. I had a tan and this treatment will make you very pale, as it peels away many layers.

Would do it again if needed. I had the Levulan left on for 7 hours before it was activated by the blue light. I believe this is better than 3 smaller treatments as it gets very deep. Its been 3 months still get a few pimples but they usually clear up quick.
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July 24, 2010

Pros:

Reduce my ance

Cons:

Downtime of 4-5 days, expensive, does not reduce oiliness as some might think

I would do it again. After 2 treatments, my skin did not have crazy breakouts like before. It could be because I resumed using BP right after levulan. But I believe the levulan blue light helped a lot. My girlfriend also noticed the difference.
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November 16, 2009

Pros:

I'm a lot less oily and I have not broken out that much since getting it 2 years ago

Cons:

I want to get it done again cause the oils coming back but not as severe as it used to be before the treatment and all i remember was that it hurt so bad and burned and i felt horrible the first 3 days

It really works!!! at least for me it did... but i noticed the third time i got the treatment i was a little tanner and my skin didn't totally peel off... so really i suggest you go when you're really pale to get the full effect :)
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October 23, 2009

Pros:

Just had my first treatment yesterday. 3 1/2 hrs. Metvix compound. Then the red light (more intense than the blue) for
8 minutes. painful but bearable

Cons:

cost $300 and not sure what the outcome will be yet. It's early next morning and I am only feeling mild discomfort so wondering what is the lasting effect on the sun damage spots? Medical in Canada does not pay for the treatment.

I am a redhead and had the treatment for severe sun damaged skin headed for cancer. This was a bearable process. My skin does look better so far, and only one day later, but not sure what the long haul process will look like. More treatments are not really affordable, so I hope this one makes the big difference. I will wait for the peeling etc. to see the final outcome, but this process was far better than the liquid nitrogen treatments, which are painful and not completely effective. Barring the expense, I would do it again, providing it really gets rid of the sun damage in several spots over my face.
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October 19, 2009

Pros:

this is my first treatment and hopefully this works.

Cons:

It is kind of painful on the second day. that was the worst. I have begun to have hte whiteheads that broke out orund my problem area which is annoying, and it is now tight and buggin me.

I don't know if I woudl do this again, i will have to see what the ned results will be. Hoefully they will be great. I don't know how older people do this. I am young and i know a lot of older people get this for precx. this is not the funest thing I have done.
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October 7, 2009

Pros:

Six days in, and I have already received compliments!

Cons:

Cost and side effects

Everyone is different, so these reviews should be taken as examples of what COULD happen. After readng the reviews, I was so nervous to get the treatment. For me, the discomfort during the blue light sitting was not bad. It felt like I used an astringent and was feeling the "alcohol burn" for 15 minutes. It really was not bad and would not keep me from going again. DO NOT GO INTO BRIGHT LIGHTS! This will cause that "burning" feeling to happen again. I put a wet washcloth in the freezer and just let it rest on my skin when I felt discomfort. By day three, I started peeling and yes, I looked silly when I went back to work. So a bunch of my co-worked asked me if I spent the weekend getting too much sun - so what! I live in Florida! I have not yet had increased breakouts. Right now, my skin is slightly better than before, but I am sure the condition will be even better as the days go by. If you have acne, try this! It is better than acutane and all the sid
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September 30, 2009

Pros:

Highly effective. Remarkable results. Woth every bit of the "Cons".

Cons:

expensive, discomfort during the healing process, lots of swelling and blistering.

My treatment was for sun damage, not for acne. Will definitely repeat every 4-5 years. This treatment left my skin beautiful.
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