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Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy

Blue light therapy with aminolevulinic acid (ALA, often branded as Levulan Kerastick) is a non-invasive, in-office photodynamic therapy (PDT) that combines a topical photosensitizing agent with blue light to treat pre-cancerous actinic keratoses (AKs), severe acne, and sun damage on the face, scalp, or arms. It destroys abnormal cells, reduces acne-causing bacteria, and shrinks sebaceous glands.

Levulan® Kerastick® is indicated for the treatment of minimally to moderately thick actinic keratosis of the face or scalp. Actinic keratoses (AKs) are rough-textured, dry, scaly patches on the skin that can lead to skin cancer. It is important to treat AKs because there is no way to tell when or which lesions will progress to squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer.

Skin lesions are treated with Levulan® Photodynamic Therapy or compounded aminolevulinic acid 20% and a special purpose blue light. This process results in significant improvement in potentially superficial skin cancers and sun-damaged skin. The 2-part treatment offers the following conveniences:

• No prescription to fill
• No daily medication to remember
• Treatment is administered by a qualified healthcare professional

Levulan Photodynamic Therapy (LPT) treats sun damaged skin, removing precancerous skin lesions and improving fine lines, pores and skin texture. It has been approved by the FDA since 1999. Studies have shown that 72% of face or scalp patients were 100% clear at 12 weeks after 1 or 2 treatments. 66% of patients experienced 100% clearance of all AK lesions of the face or scalp 8 weeks after treatment. More importantly, studies have shown that the majority of treated AK lesions of the face or scalp cleared at 3 months. Furthermore, these areas remained clear 12 months after treatment. Best results occur with two treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart.

Discover how our skin treatments can improve your sun damaged skin by calling (920) 233-1540 to request your complimentary laser skin evaluation today.

Best Candidates

Blue light therapy with ALA is appropriate for patients with actinic keratosis on their faces or scalps. There are certain conditions that exclude eligibility for laser therapy. These include pregnant or nursing female, photosensitivity disorder, immunosuppressive disease, and diabetes, bleeding disorder, seizure disorder triggered by light, active herpes breakout, active shingles or any active infection. Also, some medications can be sensitive to the light, including tetracycline, minocycline, and doxycycline.

Chemotherapy and radiation treatments can make the skin very dry, thin and vulnerable due to the rapid dying of cell tissue. During and up to one year after completing all oncology medical treatments, only gentle hydrating and restorative treatments can be performed on the skin surface. This would disqualify almost all the services of the Renaissance Medispa and the Laser Institute of Wisconsin™. If you have concerns, please address them with your medical provider. It is always best to err on the side of caution in treating compromised skin.

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Procedure

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a highly effective treatment for actinic keratoses (AKs) and certain other skin conditions. During this procedure, a topical solution called aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is applied to the skin and later activated using a specific wavelength of light.

Once applied, the ALA is absorbed by the abnormal or pre-cancerous cells. Inside these cells, it is converted into a light-sensitive compound. When exposed to a specialized blue light (Blu-U® Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator), the solution becomes activated and selectively destroys the targeted cells.

In addition to treating actinic keratoses and other pre-cancerous lesions, PDT offers several cosmetic benefits. Patients often notice:

• Improvement in acne and sebaceous gland growths
• Decreased skin oiliness
• Reduced pore size
• Smoother skin texture
• Improvement in rosacea symptoms

What to Expect During Treatment

1. Application: ALA topical solution is applied to the treatment area.
2. Absorption Period: The solution is allowed to absorb into the skin for up to three hours. During this time, patients may leave the office but must strictly avoid sun exposure and bright indoor light.
3. Light Activation: After the absorption period, the area is treated with blue light to activate the ALA.
4. Post-Treatment: The skin is cleansed to remove any remaining solution.

Recovery

Following treatment, your skin will be very red and slightly swollen for approximately 3 to 7 days. This is a normal response.

Light Avoidance (Very Important)

• Avoid direct sunlight and bright indoor light for at least 48 hours after treatment.
• Exposure during this time may cause stinging or burning and can worsen redness (erythema) and swelling (edema).
• Sunscreen alone will NOT prevent photosensitivity reactions caused by visible light.

⚠️ Any sun exposure within the first 48 hours can result in severe burning and blistering.

What to Expect

Between 48 to 72 hours, the top layer of treated skin will begin to:

• Scale
• Flake
• Peel

This process reveals fresh, healthier-looking skin underneath.

Sun Protection After 48 Hours

After the initial 48-hour period:

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors.
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) containing titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide.
• Reapply sunscreen as directed.

Proper sun protection is essential for healing and achieving the best results.

Potential Risks

The most common side effects include scaling/crusting, hypo/hyper-pigmentation, itching, stinging, and/or burning, erythema and edema. Severe stinging and/or burning at one or more lesions being treated was reported by at least 50% of patients at some time during the treatment.

Pricing

Many insurance plans cover this procedure. We recommend scheduling an appointment to be evaluated and determine your coverage eligibility.

If insurance does not cover the treatment, the following self-pay options are available:

• Branded Levulan® (typically sufficient for full-face treatment): $699
• Generic compounded aminolevulinic acid 20%: $349

Please contact our office for additional details or to discuss which option may be best for you.

Depending on the severity of your actinic keratoses (AKs) and skin thickness, a second treatment may be recommended to achieve optimal results.

Consultation

Seeing your dermatologist regularly will enable early detection of precancerous spots. When you are clear, come to us to get your skin to a healthier condition. At your personal consultation, you will get a customized treatment plan that is tailored to your face, your goals, and your budget. The sooner you set up your consultation, the sooner you will see results. Discover how sun damaged skin treatments in Wisconsin can improve your skin by calling us at (920) 233-1540 to request your complimentary laser skin evaluation at Fox Valley Plastic Surgery.