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Blue Light Therapy for Sebaceous Hyperplasia?

asked 3 years ago by LouP in Indianapolis, IN
Latest answer by Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Question viewed 4,472 times
Tags: sebaceous hyperplasia

I have tried blue light treatments with ALA applied 1 hour prior. There was improvement on sebaceous hyperplasia, but no lasting result. Freezing didn't work at all. Any suggestions? How many light treatments are safe, and how closely spaced is okay? Is once a week, for say 4 weeks, okay? Thanks!

4 answers to Blue Light Therapy for Sebaceous Hyperplasia?

+1

Treatment of oily skin and rosacea with pulse dye laser

In my practice, I treat sebaceous gland hyperplasia with a combination of chemical peels and pulse dye laser.  This works effectively and is cost effective for patients.  Blue light does not provide satsifactory results in a meaningful period of time. 
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Improved protocols for Sebaceous Hyperplasia

Sebaceous Hyperplasia is a stubborn condition that a few of our staff members have been dealing with. We currently use a combination laser treatment plan with the pulsed dye laser and the erbium glass laser. Unfortunately, as many as 8 or more treatments are required for optimal results. We also have used Levulan (aminolevulinic acid with photodynamic therapy) with fair results until we started incubating for a much longer period of time, activated with a puseld dye laser and then... more
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Much better and Cheaper treatments than that

While there is some evidence in the dermatology literature that PDT (photodynamic therapy) works, there are much more effective and cheaper alternatives. The pulsed dye laser is actually considerably more effective for the treatment of sebaceous gland hyperplasia. ( Incidentally, there are only two glands in the male which enlarge as we get older, the prostate gland and the sebaceous gland!). We have a Blu-light, IPL blue and red lights but I have never felt the need to use them for tthese... more
Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Virginia Beach Dermatologist
+1

Sebaceous hyperplasia

 I have not found ALA with blue light effective for sebaceous hyperplasia. I feel very superficial electro-cautery gets great results. It is not a cure and the lesions will continue to grow, but it is an effective way of keeping them flat and its not expensive.
Omeed Memar, MD, PhD

Chicago Dermatologist

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