For treatment of actinic keratoses, a common type of pre-cancerous skin growth, most of the procedures available have unpleasant reactions associated with the treatment. Some of the disagreeable effects include:
- Burning and blistering with cryosurgery
- Lengthy treatment regimen accompanied by itching and burning with 5-flouroracil
- Burning, itching, and peeling with chemical peels
Photodynamic therapy has far fewer complications, and the treatment is much less invasive than the others. It involves the application of a solution to the affected area. After an hour, the actinic keratosis is exposed to a blue light for around 15 minutes. During this time, some mild stinging or burning may be felt.
Post-Treatment Requirements
Use of sunscreen for the next 48 hours is essential. Ideally, this means staying indoors, but if going outside is necessary, sunscreen use is required. It is also important to avoid facial scrubs for a week and makeup for the first few days. Products containing retinoids can be resumed in about a week as long as the skin is clear.
Cosmetic Benefits of PDT
Most other actinic keratosis treatments leave scarring, redness, or skin discoloration. Photodynamic therapy results in little, if any, discoloration. The recovery period is also minimal, allowing patients to feel confident about their skin and appearance in a matter of days. Added cosmetic benefits may include:
- Reduction of any acne present
- Reduction of redness due to acne rosacea
Fully FDA Approved Procedure
Photodynamic therapy is new, but has received full approval from the FDA and has produced outstanding results in patients. Almost 90% of patients treated experienced a cure. This is similar to the cure rates of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, but the photodynamic therapy produced much better cosmetic results and was much better tolerated.
Need For Treatment
Doctors agree that actinic keratoses must be treated. If left without intervention, they can become skin cancers. The experts at OC Skin Institute can inform you on the many benefits of photodynamic therapy. For Orange County, California residents, a visit to the institute is important. Don’t let an easily treated condition grow into something worse. Contact us today.