Levulan Photodynamic Therapy - Acne Treatment

This is a powerful new treatment modality. This revolutionary new FDA approved treatment utilizing a solution called Levulan also know as aminolevulanic acid and kerastick. The Levulan solution is applied to the skin and will be absorbed by the skin for approximately an hour. The skin will become highly photosensitive, meaning that skin will be very sensitive to light. After an hour, the solution is washed off the skin and the patient undergoes an intense pulsed light treatment and/or treatment with a Blue Ultraviolet light (Blu-u-light). These treatments will remove growths on the skin, including precancerous zones and spots called actinic keratoses. As well, some cancerous growths will flake off the skin within a month leaving no scar. Sun damage, fine lines and blotchy pigmentation are also improved. This treatment will also reduce pore size, oil glands and effectively treat stubborn acne and improve the appearance of acne scars.

Patients with severe sun damaged skin, tone changes and skin laxity may see excellent results. Active acne can improve dramatically. To achieve maximum improvement, a series of 4-6 treatments 2-3 weeks apart is most effective. However, some with precancerous zones are happy with only one treatment.

The disadvantages may be that there can be some red and swollen areas for 1-2 days. As well, peeling can occur for a few days. The advantages are: Easier than repeated liquid nitrogen, Efudez (5-FU) or Aldara, because the side effects are minimal, rapid healing and only 4-6 treatments are required. Treatment is painless. No scarring, as compared to cautery, surgery and Efudez. Liquid nitrogen can leave white spots on your skin. Photodynamic Therapy improves the entire facial area, creating one color, texture and tone, as compared to spot treating with liquid nitrogen, cautery and surgery.

In conclusion, PDT can be considered an ideal treatment as it is; well tolerated, essentially painless, noninvasive (no needles or surgery) and excel cosmetic results.

What is Levulan used for?

The Levulan Kerastick plus light (blue illumination) using BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy illuminator is a two-step (drug plus blue light) treatment used to treat actinic keratoses, pre-cancerous lesions of the face or scalp (AK).

Who should not be treated with Levulan?

You should not be treated if you have:

• Skin sensitivity to blue light.
• Porphyria (a disorder of the metabolism that can lead to sensitivity to light).
• Allergies to chemicals called porphyrins.

  What should I tell my physician?

  There are other medications which increase sensitivity to light. Tell your physician~ if you are using any other medicines. These medicines include:

• Thiazides (used to treat high blood pressure)
• Tetracyclines, Fluroquinolones, Griseofulvin or Sulfonamides (used to treat infection)
• Sulfonylureas (used to treat diabetes)
• Phenothiazides (used to treat severe emotional problems)

  Do I need to take any precautions while being treated with Levulan?

  Patients being treated with Levulan need to avoid sunlight and sources of bright light for at least 40 hours after application because the treated lesions are sensitive to light.

  What are some possible side effects of Levulan?

  They are as follows:

• Blue light treatment may cause tingling, stinging, prickling or burning feeling of the treated areas. These feelings should improve at the end of the blue light treatment and should end within 24 hours.
• Following blue light treatment, the AKs and, to some degree, the surrounding skin, will redden. Swelling may also occur. These changes should reach a maximum the day after BLU-U treatment. However, these changes are temporary, and should improve markedly by the end of the first week, and should be completely gone by 4 weeks after treatment.

  Other side effects at the treatment site may include:

• Scaling
• Itching
• Changes in skin color
• Burning
• Numbness
• Darkening / Lightening of treated skin
• Skin sores
• Small red raised itchy bumps
• Swelling of skin
• Prickling (pins and needles)

  Less common side effects

• Blister
• Oozing
• Open sore on skin
• Pain
• Pus-filled blister or pimple
• Raw skin
• Scabbing
• Tenderness

  Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

  Levulan Acne Treatment

  Finally a procedure that shows positive results in the treatment of moderate acne. A new FDA approved topical solution called Levulan has entered the market Levulan is applied directly to the acne and the areas of the skin where the acne is present. The solution makes the acne more sensitive to light The Levulan solution is left on for 45-60 minutes, and then the patient is exposed to a Blue Light Treatment. The Blue Light Treatment offers effective, non-invasive and pain-free emission of blue light The light activates the acne healing Levulan solution. The Blue Light Treatment is not a laser. It emits safe, cool, visible light. A Blue Light Treatment session lasts for a period of 15 minutes, and can cause minimal discomfort After the treatment is completed, most patients experience some reddening and minor swelling of the acne.

  Levulan is also utilized for Photorejuvenation. Levulan is applied on the area needing Photorejuvenation and left on for 45-60 minutes, again making the applied skin more sensitive to light. Once this time has passed, the doctor uses the IPl laser to activate the Levulan. The results from the procedure give the patient smoother, softer and more vibrant skin.

  Levulan Photodynamic Therapy

  Photodynamic therapy was originally developed for the treatment of cancer. We are only now realizing that there are a number of other clinical conditions which can respond effectively to this exciting new technology. Clinical studies have been conducted in the use of Levulan for the treatment of mild to severe acne.

  The cause of acne is multifactorial. The bacterium P acnes is responsible for the majority of cases of acne, which is also aggravated by excessive sebum production by sebaceous glands. Research has demonstrated that visible light has the ability to destroy the bacteria causing acne by activation of topically applied Levulan. In addition, Levulan is able to shrink sebaceous glands, which also play a role in the cause of acne. Recent studies have shown that weekly treatments using topically applied Levulan followed by light activation have resulted in remarkable improvement in the severity of patients acne.

  There were no serious adverse events noted with the topical use of Levulan, however, patients do experience some mild redness and fine crusting after treatment.