Photodynamic therapy involves applying topical Levulan, a natural occurring photo-sensitizing medication, to the skin. This is then activated by our BBL (Broad Band Light) therapy to selectively destroy rapidly growing pre-cancerous skin cells or the bacteria involved with problematic acne. Additional skin rejuvenation benefits of PDT include decreased wrinkles and pore size, and improved skin texture and pigmentation. This is a very powerful treatment option for patients with extensive skin photo-damage. The skin rejuvenation benefits include decreased wrinkles and pore size with improved skin texture and pigmentation. PDT also works beautifully for patients with acne, making significant inroads into acne and its variants, including: rosacea, sebacious gland hyperplasia and enlarged skin pores. PDT’s effect on acneic skin is three-fold: it inactivates the bacteria that cause acne, it exfoliates the skin to unplug pores, and it reduces sebacious gland activity. It turns out that laser mediated PDT is fast revolutionizing not only how we treat sun damaged skin, but also acne prone skin.
Below are more examples of the type of diffuse and extensive photo-damage that responds beautifully to PDT. For men in particular, the face, scalp and ears are significantly affected. All those rough dry patches that break open are called actinic keratoses (AKs) – these have a 10% chance of transforming into squamous cell skin cancer over time. PDT can reverse 60-70% of this damage to reduce the life time risk for skin cancer.
