General Information:

Photodynamic therapy is a 2-step process for the treatment of sun-damaged/precancerous lesions. Levulan topical solution is applied to the specific body site for a pre-determined period, and then the patient is placed under the Blue Light for approximately 16 minutes. The Blue Light activates the medicine in the Levulan has been applied.

Prior to treatment and preparation:

• Inform us immediately if you take medications that react to the sun (this will be on the medication label) or if you have medical conditions which may you sensitive to the sun such as porphyria or lupus. You may not be a candidate for this treatment.
• Inform us immediately if you have a tendency to develop “cold sores” (herpes simplex viral infection) so that a medication can be prescribed to prevent an outbreak.
• If you have lesions in a hair-bearing area, clip the hair shorter or shave so that the light can reach the surface of the skin.
• Plan on being in our office 2-3 hours
• Plan on bringing reading material or electronic personal device (such as a tablet or phone) with headphones for use during the appointment. There will be considerable down-time after the medication is applied.
• Plan to bring a broad-rimmed hat and sunglasses to be used on your way home. Additionally, plan on being out of the sun and bright light for 48 hours immediately following the procedure.

During the PDT process:

Step 1: Application of the Levulan Kerastick topical solution

• The areas to be treated will be cleaned with Acetone. Levulan will be applied to specific body sites predetermined by your health care provider. The solution must be allowed to penetrate the precancerous cells for a predetermined period as recommended by your health care provider (called the “incubation period”).

Step 2: Blue Light Treatment

• After the incubation period, you will sit under the Blue Light for exactly 16 minutes and 40 seconds, (which is 1000 seconds). During this time, you may experience tingling, stinging, burning or itching of the skin.

After the treatment:

• You must avoid exposure of treated areas to sunlight (either direct or indirect) or bright indoor light for 2 days (48 hours) following treatment.
• Protect the treated areas from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and/or sun- protective clothing. Sunscreen must be worn at all times after the first 48 hours of treatment. It is recommended the sunscreen contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
• You may experience any of the following during the first few days after treatment: gradually increasing redness, slight swelling, itching, crusting, scaling and stinging.
• You may apply ice packs or over-the-counter hydrocortisone, or Vaseline to these areas in order to help alleviate the symptoms and speed the healing process.
• A follow-up appointment will be made for 8 weeks after the Blue Light treatment to evaluate your response to therapy.
• If you have any concerns or questions, please call 941.907.0222 during normal business hours.