Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) with ALA (Levulan)
For Actinic keratosis (pre-cancerous growths), inflammatory acne, acne rosacea, as well as inflamed and irritated sun-damaged skin, orange-peel/thick oily skin, psoriatic plaques, and seborrheic or allergic dermatitis.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), using the combination of AminoLevulinic Acid (ALA) and light energy delivered via both Laser and Non-Laser light sources, is taking the population to a new level in minimally invasive or no downtime skin rejuvenation. The interaction between the chemical compound Levulan (currently marketed by DUSA pharmaceuticals as Kerastick®) applied to the face and various light sources, has tremendous positive benefit on all sorts of dermatological conditions.
Levulan (a water/alcohol soluble chemical) is applied to the face as a 20% serum following a deep cleansing and a microdermabrasion treatment. When using the Vbeam pulsed-dye laser, as we do here in our center, the compound is then left on the face to be absorbed anywhere from 1 to 4 hours. Actively dividing and metabolizing cells preferentially take up this compound. Examples of these cells include those found in Actinic Keratosis (those annoying little scaly red crusty things on the photodamaged face) and squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas (the skin cancers that result if the actinic keratosis is not removed early on).
Other skin disorders that can be improved with PDT include psoriatic plaques, seborrheic or allergic dermatitis, inflammatory acne, acne rosacea, discoid lupus, as well as inflamed and irritated sun-damaged skin. Once the Levulan is found inside the skin appendages including the sebaceous glands, various wavelengths of light may be used to "activate" the compound. What does "activate" mean?
The Levulan that has actively been taken into the rapidly metabolizing cells is converted to a photoactive compound called protoporphyrin IX. This compound will "fluoresce" under UV Light, which means it will glow under a black lamp. One can visualize how extensively the levulan has been metabolized into the skin cells by using this fluorescent technique to look at the skin. Protoporphyrin IX has several wavelengths that are preferentially absorbed. One wavelength is in the blue light zone and three or four are in the red to colorless zone. That is why so many light sources can be used to activate the levulan once it has been taken into the cells.
What happens when levulan is activated? That is truly the key. A "singlet oxygen species" or free radical is produced. This free radical then kills the cell that the levulan is found in. Thus, we have created a controlled way to selectively kill "bad cells" and leave the good ones alone! The rapidly growing cancers are killed! The early cancers are killed before they grow. The actinic damage is destroyed, the psoriasis plaques are destroyed, and the sebaceous glands are injured so that hair production and oil production are diminished. In short, all the "bad stuff" is treated and the normal cells are left alone.
Photodynamic therapy may very well become the number one, no down time, in-office cure and prophylactic treatment for photodamage, non-melanoma skin cancers, actinic keratosis, keratosis pilaris, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, oily skin, large pores, blotchy pigmentation, and many other skin conditions. The patient comes in, has a microdermabrasion, the application of ALA, and a 15-20 minute laser treatment with Vbeam pulsed-dye laser. Levulan PDT "boosts" the effectiveness of laser therapies two-or three-fold. For example, if it would normally take 5-6 VBeam treatments to have satisfactory results for a certain condition, one might achieve similar results in just 3 sessions by adding Levulan to the VBeam session. Just about any light based therapy can be made more effective with Levulan, providing the wavelength of excitation is in the correct range. Phototherapy is now in its infancy, but may become the single greatest advance in light based non-invasive therapeutic techniques as we know them!
Heavenly Skin Aesthetic and Cosmetic Laser Center is proud to offer this highly effective service in skin rejuvenation. Please make an appointment today to learn about the amazing spectrum of treatment options we can provide for restoration of a youthful appearance.
Cost
All fees will be discussed at the time of your consultation.
All fees are subject to change. The fee charged is the fee at the time of your actual treatment. Old fee schedules, handouts, or website fees do not apply. Any quoted fees must be in writing and are only good for six months. No oral quotes are accepted.
There is a $100 non-refundable fee for appointments that are cancelled with less than a 24 hour notification.
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