Levulan - Activated Photofacials
About Levulan

The Levulan Kerastick plus Palomar Medilux Intense Pulse Light Photodynamic Therapy is a two-step (drug plus IPL) treatment used to treat actinic keratoses of the face.

The treated lesions are sensitive to light therefore, people being treated will need to avoid sunlight and sources of bright light for at least 40 hours after Levulan is applied.

You should not be treated with Levulan if you have:

* Skin sensitivity to light
* Porphyria (a disorder of the metabolism that can lead to sensitivity to light)
* Allergies to chemicals called porphyrins

Activated Photofacials are a type of skin treatment called photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT is a treatment where an inactive drug is put on a target tissue then activated by a medical light source. It has been used to treat acne, sun damage and actinic keratosis (AK’s are pre-cancerous). Levulan is applied to skin where AK’s or acne is a problem. An intense pulsed light activates the drug to damage tissue of the acne forming glands or AK’s. Following treatment there will be an improvement in skin condition for several months. Several treatments are often needed.

Mild itching, crusting and occasional blisters may occur, but last only a couple of days. Only the problem tissue is treated for the drug does not go into normal skin.

For people with severe acne or that not responding to conventional treatment this is the answer. The side effects of accutane are such that many cannot use this treatment. Whereas the PDT side effects are transient and usually mild. Long term problems are very rare.