32 Y/o, for Treatment of AK's (Precancers), Very Negative Results - Fresno, CA

Yes. During my follow up appointment the 2nd week, they were not surprised. Definitely feel that I was not adequately prepared for the negative effects of the treatment. I told my dermatologist that, had I known the extent of the discomfort, I never would have agreed to this treatment.

Jenniferzz- can you please tell me what to expect? I'm really lost with this and I am having it to treat AK although I wouldn't mind looking better in the process. Do people ever look better than they did to begin with? My skin is pretty nice already but the doctor says she sees pre-cancer. When I called their office to reschedule to a later date, the receptionist at my dermatologist's office would not answer my questions and said "well I expect that you discussed this with your doctor when you had your last appointment, didn't you?" All I want to know is what I need to buy before and and exactly what I should be doing afterwards. I also want to know if this could scar my face, since I am so sensitive to any thing that I put on my face. Thank you very very much!

Jeanneinborabora- I had this treatment last Wednesday (5 days ago). I had basal cell carcinoma removed via MOHS from my face last March and this treatment was recommended to address any other pre-cancerous cells on my face. I am a very fair skinned blonde. I was very nervous about the procedure and skeptical about it honestly. However, I have a large scar on my face from the removal of a very small basal cell and the thought of preventing a recurrance of that is what motivated me to go through with it. The medication was applied and sat on my face for an hour before the light therapy. I was under the light for 16 m 40 s. It burned the most for me on my upper lip and around my nose. They offered me the fans, but I never felt like I got to the point where I needed the fans and it was bearable. I feel like I have a pretty high pain tolerance. I wore a Neutrogena sunscreen on the drive home (about 20 min in car), wore a hood and sunglasses and tried to avoid the sun. I stayed indoors with the blinds drawn for two days. Bright indoor light can cause a problem, and I did feel my skin start to tingle when I was at the kitchen table and had to move away from the overhead light there. I was able to shower without any pain. My skin was swollen and red, but it was honestly not as painful as sunburns are. I have been applying Eucerin and Aquafor creams (no fragrance) as directed. I have started peeling. I will go for the second treatment in April. I expect that it will be harder/more painful than the first treatment. My experience with this first go-around was not that difficult. I did not need any pain medication and did not have any troubles sleeping. It is unfortunate that they do not offer to do a sample treatment on a small area so you can see if you have an allergic reaction to the medication. Good luck with your decision.

So some follow up, I'm 10 days out right now. I now have what appears to be, and feels like a bad sunburn (which is what I was told I would have initially). My face is still dry, red, and uncomfortable, but very tolerable. My physician recommended using 'vani-cream' for lotion as it is free of all non essential chemicals and is all natural (they have it at any pharmacy in the lotion isle). After the vani-cream, I applied aquaphor as instructed. On top of all that you can apply sunscreen (I did break out very badly for the first few days). They recommend to stay out of the sun for 48-72 hrs. I strongly recommend that also. Vani-cream has a sunblock (50spf) that worked well. I also used nuetrogena 70 spf but found this to burn very very badly upon application. The Blu light therapy was definitely not pleasant, I should make it clear that I have a pretty good pain tolerance. I could hear patients having the same procedure in the adjacent rooms who were stating that they were in a great deal of pain. If you have sensitive skin then I would recommend this procedure even less. If I knew before that there was even a chance my reaction could have been this bad, I would never have had the treatment.

I'm reading all these threads absolutely horrified of this procedure. I just had my first AK frozen off on face under eye. It was a tiny spot, became swollen to size of nickel just having cryotherapy. I'm having a hard time with this procedure, can't imagine the PDT. I had basil cell removed via Mohs on decolletage area 12 years ago. Doctor did a great job, only have a think pen like scar about 2.5" long. Recovery was awful, did not prepare me. Had stitches 3 layers deep and couldn't pull myself up from bed without help. Derm said I should maybe consider having PDT or other similar treatments done on face and neck to prevent any other pre-cancers or cancers forming. My skin is so sensitive, so much that I had an allergic reaction to the polysporin they applied to stitches on Mohs that I broke out in rash. I get heat rash, allergic to all chemical sunscreens, most moisturizers, contact dermatitis, eczema, allergies, etc. Wondering how people get through PDT? Do you not leave your home for 2+ weeks and take time off work? Seems so extremely painful and horribly looking.

You sound just like me!! (Doesn't it stink?) Did you end up having the procedure?? And if so how did it go? Thank you.

I had someone drive me home, I was covered up, went to my bedroom with blackout drapes for 2 days. I stay covered up, turn the lights down low. I use Benedryl for itching, aloe lidicaine gel for skin pain, add in ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and stay home. I am a pharmacist, so I was prepared. My dermatologist slathered me with zinc type sun block, so I looked like a ghost. It is all worth it, to get rid of most of the disease. I expect to repeat this every 2 years. It took decades to develop this sun exposure, it take multiple treatments to get rid of it. I used Aldabra before it was more painful, so ALA blue light is more tolerable. Nice benefit, it makes my skin softer, less lines and have improved my rosacea as well as the AK. I look better.

My face looks worse than your so yeah I feel your pain also

Really sorry. Did your dermatologist explain that it could be that bad? Mine did not. As a follow up, my face now develops redness in the area I had treated anytime I go into the sun for more than 30 min. It looks like I have a sunburn as if I'd been outside for hours and it takes several days to go away.

No they didn't tell me the extreme I would see or go through

hi how are u , how was ur skin right now ?it's pass one month how is it ?

I'm 3 months out from the procedure. My Skin is better, almost back to normal. Only noticeable lasting effect is that I get sun burns way easier now (because it's all new, fresh skin). So I have to put on sunblock even if I'm only outside 30 min. Just had my follow up appointment and my dermatologist said a lot more people than they expected have been complaining of severe reactions like mine. I'll still never do it again.

thank u reply me , I am same like u,some part has little blisters so after this procedure What can I put my face like lotion? what kinds brand I can use? thank u for reply me