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Photodynamic therapy also known as Blue Light therapy is a relatively new procedure and is especially reserved for moderate to severe acne cases.
A photodynamic therapy involves the following steps:
This treatment is effective in cases of severe acne, warts, and certain types of cancer such as cancer of the oesophagus, and non-small cell lung cancer.
Some very common side effects you may experience are swelling, itching, redness, peeling, crusting, hyperpigmentation, sensitivity to light, which can last for upto a month of the procedure. You will be more prone to the side effects if you have a dark complexion.
Another common reaction you may encounter is a sudden burst of severe acne, which soon disappears.
Also, you may experience severe pain during the process of the therapy.
You will be advised to stay indoors for a month after this treatment and to completely avoid the sun and also any bright light inside the house. You will also be asked to refrain from taking medicines which may the risk of bleeding such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
Three to four sessions of treatment, of around four hours each, are generally advised, which are spaced out approximately 3-4 weeks apart.
It usually takes two to six weeks for the treated area to completely heal.
It usually takes two to six weeks for the treated area to completely heal.
This treatment is effective in cases of severe acne, warts, and certain types of cancer such as cancer of the oesophagus, and non-small cell lung cancer.
This treatment is a definite no-no if you are pregnant.
Cost of photodynamic therapy can vary depending upon the city/locality, clinic/hospital type & amenities, experience of the provider, the technology & material used, skin area and skin type etc.
Please consult your doctor to get the exact treatment plan and price quote suiting your unique needs.
Results are not considered to be permanent. Acne may disappear for few months or years and may re-appear.
People interested in this topic also read:
1. Sakamoto F, Lopes J, Anderson R. Photodynamic therapy for acne vulgaris: A critical review from basics to clinical practice. 2018. Available at: http://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(10)00019-8/abstract. Accessed March 2, 2018.
2. Terrell S, Aires D, Schweiger ES. Treatment of acne vulgaris using blue light photodynamic therapy in an African-American patient. 2018. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26657785_Treatment_of_acne_vulgaris_using_blue_light_photodynamic_therapy_in_an_African-American_patient. Accessed March 2, 2018.
3. Hongcharu W, Taylor C, Aghassi D, Suthamjariya K, Anderson R, Chang Y. Topical ALA-Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris. 2018. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15409443. Accessed March 2, 2018.
4. Itoh Y, Ninomiya Y, Tajima S, Ishibashi A. Photodynamic therapy of acne vulgaris with topical δ-aminolaevulinic acid and incoherent light in Japanese patients. 2018. Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.04086.x/full. Accessed March 2, 2018.
Chocolates do not cause pimples or acne, neither does pizza or fries. In fact, there's little evidence that specific foods actually do cause acne. Staying hydrated and eating a healthy diet, though, can help definitely result in a clear, glowing skin.
Spending small amounts of time (10 to 20 minutes) in the sun can be beneficial for healing acne. Too much sun exposure though can be harmful. It can cause more breakouts and darken existing acne scars.
Over exfoliating and over cleansing can actually aggravate your acne problems. It can irritate and dry your skin out, and make it produce more oil and then cause breakouts. Overdoing acne treatments can have the same effect. Therefore, stick to a morning and night regimen — cleanse, medicate, and moisturize.
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