Levulan® Therapy

What is it?

Levulan® Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is the most recent advance in acne therapy. Photodynamic acne therapy involves the application of Levulan® (5-aminolevulinic acid), a photosensitizing agent, which is then activated by the BLU-U® Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy system. The Levulan® chemical is absorbed into the skins abnormal cells only, and is then activated by the BLU-U® Light pulses. This results in significant improvement in moderate to severe cystic acne.

How does it work?

Levulan® acne treatment involves three mechanisms of action against acne:

1. The application of Levulan® inactivates the bacteria that triggers acne.
2. It exfoliates the skin to unclog pores.
3. Treatment shuts down the sebaceous glands in the skin (root cause in the formation of acne).

This treatment has been known to produce great results, even on severe acne. Levulan® acne therapy can even work on patients who have failed to see changes from Accutane (an oral medication). Accutane also targets the sebaceous gland but has fairly toxic side effects and health risks. Levulan® is a very safe alternative, and is highly recommended if you have had skin cancer spots on your face in the past and want to avoid re-occurrence.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does it cost?

  $600 per session.

• Will I need multiple treatments?

  The number of suggested treatments varies from person to person, but usually 2-4 treatments at 6 month intervals are recommended for best results.

• Who does the treatment?

  The treatment is performed by one of our professionally trained Medical Estheticians.

• How long does it take?

  Treatment usually takes about 1 hour.

• Is there any downtime or pain?

  You will typically have after-effects for 4-7 days following your treatment, including thick peeling and redness. You must avoid direct sun exposure for one week following the procedure.