Photodynamic Therapy and Levulan

Dr. Amy Forman Taub is a pioneer in researching, improving, and applying PDT to skin conditions

If you want quicker or more profound results in photorejuvenation, or you have such severe damage that you may have precancerous cells or actinic keratosis, photodynamic therapy (PDT) would be a good choice.

Since “photo” means light and “dynamic” means action, photodynamic therapy is the use of light or laser energy to act against skin disease, in this case sun damage, precancerous cells (actinic keratosis), acne, and inflammatory rosacea. Your affected skin must first be coated with a prescription solution called Levulan, which makes the target cells or glands more sensitive to light. The combination of Levulan and light not only treats the diseased skin cells or glands, it also makes your skin more healthy, smooth, and clear, possibly even prevent skin cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Photodynamic Therapy

How do I know if I need PDT?

PDT may be right for you if you have sun-damaged skin, actinic keratosis, acne, inflammatory rosacea, hidradenitis suppurativa, or other less common skin diseases. You must also understand the benefits and limitations of this treatment.

Pregnant women or patients taking Accutane during the previous six months are not eligible for PDT.

How does PDT work?

Photodynamic therapy uses light or laser energy to act against skin disease, sun damage, precancerous cells (actinic keratosis), acne, and inflammatory rosacea. PDT is not painful, you may feel slight discomfort during treatment; it feels like a rubber band snapping on your skin.

What is the treatment like?

On the day of treatment, you arrive 60 to 120 minutes early, depending on the area being treated, so your skin can be cleansed and coated with Levulan. For best results, we sometimes also perform microneedling, to increase the absorption of the Levulan. You may want to bring a book to read while Levulan is absorbed by your skin. After 60 to 120 minutes the Levulan will be washed off. The next step is treatment with either a light or laser. If blue light is used you will sit under the light for 10 to 20 minutes. If a laser is used your provider will rub a cool gel onto your skin before treatment.

Can this be combined with other treatments?

Yes. PDT may be combined with traditional Photorejuvenation, chemical peels, and other therapies. The choice of combinations depends on the skin condition being treated. It also may be combined with tissue tightening treatments or injectable fillers and toxins.

What is the cost of Photodynamic Therapy?

The cost depends on the number of treatments. PDT for actinic keratosis may be covered by your insurance if we only use blue light (see PDT under medical treatments) Treatments of acne, rosacea, and sun damage are not covered by insurance and are considered cosmetic treatments that you are responsible for.

Can PDT be used to treat acne?

Yes, hidradenitis suppurativa, a severe form of acne, requires monthly treatments until the condition is under control. Maintenance treatments are then recommended. See Acne Procedures for more details on the use of PDT for the treatment of acne.

What are the risks and side effects?

This treatment often results in redness and scaliness, similar to having a sunburn for 1 day to over a week. If there is a lot of sun damage or if you have been in the light during the 2 days, you may have some significant burning discomfort in the treated area. This occasionally happens despite your best efforts. The good news is that even with severe side effects, there has never been any reported scarring with this treatment. So even if you do have a pronounced effect in the short term, you will still get a very good result.

If your treated area is tanned or recently exposed to the sun, we recommend that you wait until the tan fades before PDT. This will reduce side effects such as blisters or crusts. If you prefer to have your tanned skin treated, we will reduce the intensity of treatment.

Prior to treatment all potential risks and side effects will be discussed with you by your medical provider and cosmetic coordinator.

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Is there another way to get the same effect as PDT?

Yes. Precancerous cells may also be destroyed by topical creams, liquid nitrogen, and surgery. Sun-damaged skin may also be treated by the Fraxel laser, chemical peels, topical creams, and by laser without Levulan.

Topical creams and PDT each result in an 80% to 90% improvement in actinic keratosis. PDT is done during one visit to the physician’s office, whereas topical creams must be applied daily by the patient for weeks. After PDT the patient appears red and scaly for a few days compared to 3 to 6 weeks with topical therapy.

Although uncomfortable for a few minutes, freezing with liquid nitrogen is fast and effective and can be done in a single visit. It’s also simpler than a PDT procedure and less messy than creams. Freezing with liquid nitrogen may also leave a white scar.

A major advantage of PDT is that it destroys tiny precancerous cells not visible to the naked eye. None of the other procedures do this.

For hidradenitis suppurativa, PDT works better than most other treatments. You also avoid having to lance swollen areas; this is uncomfortable and leaves scars.

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Advanced Dermatology is the leading aesthetic and medical dermatology practice in the North Shore servicing Glencoe, Lincolnshire and Chicago.