Levulan
For those individuals who suffer from unsightly, embarrassing acne, Levulan is a treatment that can help. Levulan Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a blue light therapy that has been used to treat moderate to severe cystic acne and sebaceous hyperplasia. This innovative treatment has been known to significantly improve pigmentation and skin texture while softening wrinkles and decreasing pore size. Used as part of photodynamic therapy (PDT), Levulan, a photo sensitizing agent compromised of 5-aminolevulinic acid is applied to the skin several minutes to several hours prior to the application of a light source, (blue light, red light or IPL). This active agent works to target specific skin cells while leaving surrounding tissue intact. A typical treatment involves applying the solution for 15-60 minutes and then 8-10 minutes of the light source.
The Levulan treatment involves three separate mechanisms of action against problem acne. This treatment successfully inactivates the bacteria that trigger acne and shuts down the sebaceous glands while exfoliating the skin to unclog pores. This treatment is successful because the sebaceous glands are the root cause of acne so by shutting these glands down, patients can experience acne free skin with lasting results. Levulan has become an effective acne treatment for those patients whose skin has become antibiotic resistant. The cost for a series of treatments can range from $2000- $3500. Side effects can be redness, swelling, stinging and burning after treatment. On rare occasions some people may be hypersensitive to the Levulan itself.
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