Photodynamic Therapy Information Hampshire UK
Good for:
- Bowen's disease and multiple Solar keratoses
Poor for:
- Rejuvenating the skin because it does not repair the damaged collagen or elastin fibres. Prescription-only skin rejuvenating creams work better and are cheaper.
- Acne: the vast majority of people can treat their acne more effectively and cheaply by other means.
It is also used to rejuvenate the skin if the outer layer of the skin is heavily damaged by sunlight. In this situation it is often used with skin rejuvenation medicines.
What are the advantages of photodynamic therapy?
The cell damage produced by photodynamic therapy is concentrated in the abnormal cells, leaving many of the surrounding normal cells undamaged and able to help the skin heal. Therefore, photodynamic therapy will leave a better cosmetic result and can be used in situations in which the skin would not heal well after surgery.
What are the disadvantages of photodynamic therapy?
- Photodynamic therapy has a slightly lower cure rate than surgery.
- It can only be used on reasonably flat skin cancers or pre-cancers.
- Nodular skin cancers can only be treated if most of the cancer is first removed by curettage.
How does photodynamic therapy work?
A cream containing aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) is applied to the skin. Over a period of three to six hours the ALA is selectively taken up by skin cancer or pre-cancer cells and converted inside the cell into a photoactive, pink coloured, porphyrin.
When the strong beam of light is shone at the cells, the porphyrin molecules are broken down triggering a photochemical reaction inside the cell that destroys it.
Which areas respond best to photodynamic therapy?
- The face and upper trunk where an excellent cosmetic result is desired
- The leg where the circulation is poor and surgical wounds take a long time to heal
Is photodynamic therapy safe?
Yes, it is a well researched and safe treatment. The long term cure rates are now well known and short term complications are transient and well documented.
Does photodynamic therapy hurt?
If the treatment gets too uncomfortable local anaesthetic will be injected to relieve the pain.
How should I prepare for photodynamic therapy?
No preparation is needed unless you are having a large area such a whole face or scalp treated. If so, buy a bottle of "After Sun" cream to soothe the sunburn-like reaction that photodynamic therapy can produce.
What is involved during photodynamic therapy?
Most photodynamic therapy treatments require two treatment sessions spaced one to eight weeks apart. At the first session, the skin is injected with local anaesthetic so that a small sample of the pre-cancer or cancer can be taken and sent to the labs for analysis.
Then, the cream containing ALA is applied to the area(s) and covered with a waterproof and lightproof dressing. Three to six hours later, you return to hospital to have the light treatment. This takes about twenty minutes and varies depending upon the type of light source that is used.
During the light treatment, cold air is blown onto the treatment site to relieve any discomfort. If the treatment becomes painful, an injection of local anaesthetic can be given to relieve the discomfort.
The second treatment session is identical, except that it is more comfortable because there are now fewer abnormal cells to treat.
How will I look immediately after photodynamic therapy?
Usually, you will leave the first photodynamic therapy session with a small dressing over any wound(s) left by taking a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis or covering the wound left by debulking the lesion.
After the second session of photodynamic therapy, often no dressing is needed.
The skin is a bit red immediately after treatment This redness often settles for a few hours until the sunburn-like reaction starts. The sunburn-like reaction lasts for around one week.
Is there any important photodynamic therapy aftercare?
You will need to follow the wound care instructions. In addition, if you have had a large area treated, four hourly applications of "After Sun" will soothe any discomfort.
How long after photodynamic therapy will I notice an improvement?
The treated area usually disappears after the first photodynamic therapy session to leave an area of flat, pink skin. The pinkness usually clears after six weeks but can last up to one year on the chest.
How many photodynamic therapy treatments will I need?
Most people will need two sessions of photodynamic therapy. The second session increases the cure rate.
What side-effects does photodynamic therapy produce?
- Discomfort during the treatment
- Afterwards, there is a sunburn-like reaction around the shallow wounds left by the biopsy or de-bulking.
- Occasionally, the shallow wound will weep or even bleed for a few days.
- In the long term, the treated area may be white
Who shouldn't have photodynamic therapy?
- Women who are in the first stages of pregnancy or breast feeding
