Bay Area Photodynamic Therapy doctors

William Ting, MD William Ting, MD
Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon
2262 Camino Ramon Suite #200, San Ramon
19 answers
Serena Mraz-Gernhard, MD Serena Mraz-Gernhard, MD
Bay Area Dermatologist
2290 Sacramento St. Ste 204, Vallejo
Thomas Munyon, MD Thomas Munyon, MD
Bay Area Dermatologist
215 N San Mateo Dr Suite 1, San Mateo

Recent Answers

Best Treatment for Actinic Keratoses, Fine Lines, and Sun Damage?

I have multiple actinic keratoses, fine lines, and sun damage on my arms. I am 38 and very fair skinned. My super toned arms used to be my best feature! What would be the best treatment for me?

A: Treatment for sun damaged areas require a multimodal approach

Nonfacial sun damaged areas such as chest and arms can benefit from a sequential chemopreventive therapy involving combination of topical imiquimod, topical 5-FU, photodynamic therapy (PDT), fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. If you were to elect to use PDT to treat sun damage for back of hands and both arms, you may need to consider lengthening incubation time beyond what would be used for the face as the skin on the arms are thicker than that of the face and would require more incubation time for the medication to penetrate across skin barrier.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

William Ting, MD
Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon
Photodynamic Therapy to Remove Basal Cell Carcinoma?

I have recently been diagnosed with nodular Basal cell carcinoma on my chest, 6 spots. I have had other basal removed and don't want anymore surgery. Is Photodynamic therapy a possible alternative?

A: Photodynamic Therapy can be part of a combination of nonsurgical therapy for superficial basal cell carcinoma

European dermatologists have far more experience using Photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat basal cell carcinomas than American counterparts. Most of the clinical experience is based on Metvixia rather than Levulan. PDT can serve as a part of sequential nonsurgical therapies for treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma, e.g. imiquimod. However, the only sure way of complete eradication of basal carcioma is via confirmation of clear margins through pathology of excised specimen.

William Ting, MD
Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon
Blackheads After Photodynamic Therapy

I am a 39 year old female. Throughout my years, I've had bouts of acne flare ups that were always treatable. I started developing acne on my back and chest and more stubborn acne on my face in my early 30s. My acne is actually VERY mild, but stubborn.

I tried several treatments and medications, but they didn't really have long-term results for me. Finally, I tried Photodynamic Therapy, and after the first treatment, I noticed several blackheads or clogged pores in areas I had never had them before. I just finished my second treatment and was horrified to see how many MORE blackheads I had developed again, in areas I had never had them before. Is this normal? I don't even want to go for another treatment because I fear it will only get worse. Any comments or suggestions would be extremely appreciated.

A: Photodynamic therapy for acne

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) works by applying Levulan or Metvyxia prior to a blue and/or red light source. PDT can be very effective in managing inflammatory acne, particularly if Accutane is not an option. Out of few hundred photodynamic therapy treatments that my clinic has performed for inflammatory acne, I have not seen exacerbation of blackheads. This may be an unique anomaly, possibly associated with use of comedogenic moisturizer as part of the post-PDT skin care.

William Ting, MD
Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon
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