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What Kind of Anti-aging Benefits Does PDT Have if IPL is Used Instead of Blue Light?

asked 1 year ago by Gabb in LA
Latest answer by Donna Bilu Martin, MD
Question viewed 710 times
Tags: chest, face, comparison, sun damage

My dermatologist suggested PDT using IPL instead of Blue light to get rid of sun damage in my face and chest. Will that make my sun spots go away? Will it improve my skin texture? What other benefits does the treatment have? I have broken capilarities and my skin is pretty rough and dry. Thank you so much!!!!

3 answers to What Kind of Anti-aging Benefits Does PDT Have if IPL is Used Instead of Blue Light?

+1

IPL and levulan for pre-cancers, acne

We often use IPL (intense pulsed light) with levulan to treat pre-cancers on the face and for acne treatment. Typically, patients sit with the levulan for one hour. The IPL is then performed. It feels like a rubber band snap. The treatment "lights up" precancerous areas, which turn red and peel for 1-2 weeks. Using an IPL has the added benefit of treating broken capillaries and brown spots.
Donna Bilu Martin, MD

Miami Beach Dermatologist
+1

IPL can activate PDT similarly to Blue Light

Dear Gabb, Blue light is typically used for photodynamic therapy because the chemical used in PDT has the highest activation in that wavelength. However, an IPL can be used to activate the chemical also. It will have similar effects in that it will cause pre-cancers and superficial skin cancers that have taken the chemical up to "light up" - i.e. the abnormal skin cells die. IPL has separate effects on red spots and dark spots but that effect is different than activating the... more
Kavita Mariwalla, MD

New Haven Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

IPL-PDT works deeper than blue light

IPL or red light PDT has deeper effects than blue light. In my experience IPL works better than red light PDT. It is also much faster.
Robert Kasten, MD

Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon

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