Is Photodynamic Therapy a Laser Treatment?

Photodynamic therapy is when you apply a chemical to the face (Levulan is the brand name). After letting it incubate it needs to be activated with a light source. Some physicians use a blue light, and others use a laser.

Photodynamic therapy is a treatment that uses a light source that is filtered for a specific color (usually red or blue) to activate a chemical that is painted on the skin.  Some physicians activate the chemical with an IPL (also a light source) or a PDL (a laser).  

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is not a laser treatment. Laser delivers coherent output of light energy at a certain wavelength. On the other hand, PDT utilizes photochemical reaction between Levulan or Metvyxia (both are breakdown compounds of the red blood cell) and Blue light 420nm or Red light 600-700nm. PDT is FDA approved for treatment of precancerous  lesions, i.e. actinic keratoses. PDT can be quite efficacious for resistant acne vulgaris, which is considered an off-labelled... more

Photodynamic Therapy or PDT is a method of treatment where a chemical called Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is applied to the skin and then activated with a light source. Sometimes this light source is a laser, sometimes it is an IPL, and sometimes it is a panel of high intensity blue lights. They all work, even the sun can activate the chemical (that is why you must avoid the sun after treatment). PDT is used to treat acne, sun damage, and pre-cancerous lesions called actinic keratoses. It... more