Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Toronto
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Photodynamic therapy is a non-invasive light-based treatment which can be used to treat precancerous skin lesions known as actinic keratoses. It is also an effective acne treatment.
What is Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)?
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medical procedure that involves the use of a topical photosensitizing drug and broadband light to target precancerous skin cells or acne lesions. The procedure uses a photosensitizing agent known as aminolevulinic acid, or Levulan, in combination with broadband light (BBL), to treat actinic keratoses. The Levulan is applied to the skin and preferentially absorbed by precancerous cells and oil glands.
Because the skin becomes more responsive to the focused light energy, PDT is able to selectively treat these complexion issues.
Why Photodynamic Therapy Could Be a Good Choice for You
Photodynamic therapy is an advanced medical skin treatment that is able to treat actinic keratoses and acne while also offering cosmetic benefits, such as reduced redness, more even pigmentation, and improved skin texture.
Photodynamic therapy is ideal for the treatment of sun damaged skin. Skin with extensive sun damage typically has uneven pigmentation and sunspots, broken blood vessels, and rough precancerous lesions known as actinic keratoses. Photodynamic therapy is able to treat the actinic keratoses as well as the pigmented lesions and redness, to improve the overall health and appearance of your skin.
Precise Treatment
Capable of selectively treating actinic keratoses.
Treatment Plan
2-6 treatments, each scheduled 2-4 weeks apart, are generally recommended.
Ideal for Significant Sun Damage
A comprehensive approach that dermatologists prefer for patients with multiple AKs or significant sun damage.
Who is Photodynamic Therapy For?
In general, PDT is suitable for the following patients:
- Patients with many actinic keratoses where treatment of a large area is required.
- Patients with actinic keratoses who prefer an in-office treatment over applying creams at home for many weeks.
- Patients with actinic keratoses who also want to improve the appearance of their skin.
- Patients who understand that they'll need to avoid sun exposure following their PDT treatment.
- Photodynamic therapy is not suitable for patients who have medical conditions which require avoidance of sun exposure (such as lupus) or for patients taking medications which make them more sensitive to the sun (including Accutane, tetracyclines, ciprofloxacin, hydrochlorothiazide).
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Our Comprehensive Approach to Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy involves three steps: a topical solution of aminolevulanic acid (ALA), also known as Levulan, is applied to the area to be treated. The solution is left on the skin for 30-60 minutes to incubate, and then laser light is applied to the skin to activate the Levulan.
Most patients experience a sensation of warmth and a stinging sensation as the laser light passes over the skin. Topical anesthetic can be applied before the treatment to decrease discomfort.
Treated skin will be extremely sensitive to light for up to 48 hours afterward. It is crucial that you stay indoors and avoid sun exposure during this time while the photosensitizer is metabolized and eliminated from your skin.
Common side effects include redness, swelling, mild crusting and peeling, and sensitivity. This typically occurs for 2-3 days. For more intense treatments, side effects can last up to one week.
Patients typically undergo 2-6 treatments, each scheduled 2-4 weeks apart, to achieve desired results
You'll see a gradual improvement in your complexion over the weeks and months following your treatment.
The Science Behind Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy combines pharmaceutical science with precise light activation to achieve powerful therapeutic results.
At the core of photodynamic therapy is a pharmaceutical compound called aminolevulinic acid (ALA), marketed under the brand name Levulan. This molecule is what makes the treatment so effective.
ALA plays an important role in the production of the red part of blood. When ALA is applied to the skin, skin cells absorb it. Inside these cells, ALA transforms into a special substance that is attracted to light and accumulates there. This transformation is essential because the abnormal cells, like the early cancer cells in rough sun spots (actinic keratoses), absorb and retain a lot more of ALA than healthy normal cells do.
When ALA is exposed to specific wavelengths of light, it creates harmful oxygen particles. And since the abnormal cells have higher amounts of absorbed ALA, they are broken down and eventually eliminated from the body as waste.
How Photodynamic Therapy Works for Actinic Keratoses
Actinic keratoses (AK) are those rough, scaly patches that develop on sun-exposed skin. They are considered precancerous lesions. While not all AKs progress to skin cancer, a small percentage do develop into squamous cell carcinoma. Treating and eliminating AKs is an important preventative measure, and PDT offers one of the most effective approaches available.
Actinic keratoses consist of clusters of abnormal skin cells with damaged DNA from cumulative sun exposure. These cells divide faster than surrounding normal cells. When Levulan is applied to sun-damaged skin, these abnormal cells absorb significantly more ALA than healthy surrounding tissue. This creates a situation where precancerous lesions essentially "light up" with photosensitizer, becoming easier targets for treatment. PDT can even remove lesions not yet visible to the naked eye.
This comprehensive approach is why dermatologists often prefer PDT for patients with multiple AKs or significant sun damage. Rather than treating individual lesions one at a time with liquid nitrogen or other spot treatments, PDT addresses the entire affected field simultaneously.
The Dual Medical and Cosmetic Benefit
What makes photodynamic therapy particularly appealing is that its therapeutic effects also produce cosmetic improvements. When you undergo treatment for actinic keratoses, you'll also experience:
- Improved skin texture: Removal of rough, scaly lesions leaves smoother skin
- More even pigmentation: Many sun spots and areas of hyperpigmentation improve
- Reduced redness: Vascular changes from sun damage often improve
- Enhanced overall skin quality: Collagen stimulation from the healing response contributes to a more youthful appearance
This combination of medical necessity and cosmetic enhancement makes PDT particularly satisfying for patients, addressing health concerns while simultaneously improving appearance.
Photodynamic Therapy FAQ
What is photodynamic therapy used to treat?
Photodynamic therapy is able to treat precancerous skin lesions caused by sun exposure (actinic keratoses). It is also able to treat acne.
Is photodynamic therapy safe?
Is PDT treatment painful?
How does PDT prevent skin cancer?
What can I expect after photodynamic therapy?
Treated skin will be extremely sensitive to light for up to 48 hours afterward. It is crucial that you stay indoors and avoid sunlight until the photosensitizer is metabolized and eliminated from your skin.
Common side effects include redness, mild peeling and sensitivity. This typically occurs for 2-3 days, after which they will disappear. For more intense treatments, side effects can last longer.
Can I wash my face after PDT treatment?
Can I wear makeup after photodynamic therapy?
When can I see the results of a PDT treatment?
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650 Mount Pleasant Rd #8
Toronto, ON M4S 2N5, Canada
Phone: 647-351-9277
Fax: 647-351-9077
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