Alternative Acne Remedies: Photodynamic Therapy

If you’re suffering from adult acne, you may have tried many remedies to help reduce it. But if none of those remedies are working, you can end up feeling frustrated and embarrassed by your skin.

But a new alternative acne remedy has been developed called photodynamic therapy or PDT. This uses a drug on your skin that’s activated by light. When the medicine is activated, an oxygen molecule is produced that works to destroy nearby cells.

This was originally developed as a way to treat skin cancers. However, it has been found to reduce acne and improve the clarity of skin and is now a common acne treatment. You’ll usually go to a dermatologist’s office to have this process performed.

There are three steps to the procedure. Sometimes before the procedure microdermabrasion is performed to help the drug penetrate deeper into the skin. Then the first step is followed and the photosensitizer drug is applied to the skin.

The second step involves waiting. You might have to wait anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour for the drug to penetrate the skin. Once the appropriate time has passed, you’ll receive the light activation. Generally a blue light is used to activate the drug for the best results.

This procedure is usually painless. After the procedure you may feel like you have a mild sunburn and there could be some peeling. You may also be more sensitive to sunlight for the next few weeks. But other than that you shouldn’t experience any side effects.

Generally you’ll need to have this procedure from three to six times depending on how your body is responding to it. However, some people begin to have results after the first treatment. Your series of treatments will be anywhere from two to six weeks apart depending on your specific needs.

PDT can be covered by insurance if you’re using it to treat cancers or other skin conditions. However, for acne it can be considered a cosmetic procedure, so you may not be able to get insurance coverage for it.

Treatment costs vary by location, but you’re looking at several hundred dollars to get a complete course of treatment. While that may seem expensive, it’s not much more expensive than other medication therapies and it can be very effective.

If you’re suffering from adult acne, you may want to talk with your dermatologist about photodynamic therapy. It could be a great option if other treatments just aren’t working for you.

Learn more about your health online when you read the rest of our information here about: Acne Vulgaris


** Further reading through our articles on health issues will give you a body of information that will help you decide what options you have to deal with the underlying causes of your problem through giving your body the nutrition products that will assist you body to heal from the inside out.

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