Edgar Franklin Fincher, MD, PhD

 Treating precancerous spots os actinic keratoses (AKs) requires a little more than just IPL.  A procedure called photodynamic therapy or PDT is really the way that it is performed.  PDT utilizes a light-activated chemical.  THis chemical ALA is painted over the skin in the area that is to be treated.  Next, an incubation period of between 1-4 hours is required while the medication absorbs into the skin.  Once this has occurred, the ALA is activated by a light source.  This can be IPL, a pulsed-dye laser, red light or blue light.  The light converts the ALA to a chemical that destroys the AKs.  

Afterward, the patient will experience varying degrees of redness and peeling for about 4 days.  Absolute sun avoidance in the first 48 hrs after application of the ALA is a must to prevent possible burns from activation of the medication by sunlight.  Generally, 2 treatments are performed 4-8 weeks apart.

THis is a great treatment for AKs and also for eliminating facial redness and brown spots if the right light source or combinations of lights is used.

Efudex (5-fluorouracil) is also an excellent treatment for AKs.  Consult your dermatologist for more information.