Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) information

Before your treatment, please tell your doctor or nurse if you:

• Take any medications, supplements or vitamins
• Have or have ever had cold sores or shingles
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• Have a condition that makes you more sensitive to light, including lupus or porphyria

The day of your treatment

• Don’t use creams, lotions, or makeup on the treatment area.
• Bring something to protect the treatment area from UV rays. If the treatment area is on your face, bring a wide-brimmed hat. If
  it isn’t on your face, wear clothing that covers the area.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes
• Consider pre-medicating with ibuprofen unless contraindicated

During your treatment

• A medication will be applied to the treatment area. This will typically take between 90 minutes to be absorbed. Please bring a good book, your computer or something to entertain you if you wish! We have wi-fi.
• A red light will be shined on the treatment area for about 20 minutes. This will activate the medication.
• You may experience burning or stinging pain during treatment.

After Your Treatment

• For 48 hours after your treatment, don’t expose the treated area to bright light. This includes: sunlight (even through car windows), bright indoor lights (such as medical exam lights). Normal house lighting is okay.  Plan to be indoors at all times while the sun is out. After 48 hours you may go about activities as usual.
• For up to 7-10 days you may experience: redness (like a bad sunburn), swelling, peeling, crusting, mild itching. The burning and stinging you experienced during treatment may last for up to 24 hours.
• Follow these steps to care for the treated area: Apply a cool compress to the a few times a day for the first 24 hours. Starting the day after your treatment, use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser to clean the treated area. Use a clean towel to pat your skin dry, do not rub or scrub.  Apply a thick moisturizer, such as Cetaphil or Vaseline, to the area to keep your skin moist. If a scab forms, apply Vaseline to it .
• We recommend Tylenol or ibuprofen for pain.
• Follow up in 1 month. The treatment typically will clear around 80% of lesions.

Call our office if you:

• Have a temperature of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher
• Have pain not controlled by Tylenol or ibuprofen
• Develop blisters on the treated area
• Have any questions or unexpected problems