Learning to Listen - Palo Alto, CA

My insurance covers 100% of cost of procedures. Once I get the bill, I'll post the charge

There was a great deal of peeling (once 1 layer peeled off, another layer did); and, once that happened, I'm very pleased with the results of PDT.

After Day 5, the inflammation quicklly disappeared. I was left with large areas that flaked much like a sunburn. When that sloughed off, everyone commented on how much better my skin looked prior to the treatment. There are still AK's present as well as "sun spots" which previous treatments of Efudex removed. I'll follow up with the dermatologist in a month or two, and if he suggest a second PDT session (which is usual), I won't hesitate to do it. This is much more convenient than Efudex and reaches areas where Efudex isn't recommended (nose, ears, etc.). But. I will cover my face on the long drive home and stay in a darkened room for 3 days after the treatment.

I'm writing this on Day 5 of the treatment. The reviews I've read here helped me "hope" that I would be feeling better, and on Day 5, I do. I'm 65 yo and have a long history of both skin, basal & squamous cell problems. Have had many surgeries and treatment with Efudex, which were becoming a nuisance twice a year. As well, Efudex hadn't been as helpful as initial treatments. I misunderstood when my doctor said that phototherapy would help him understand "what we're dealing with." I thought the photodynamic thereapy would only "light up" AK's and/or cancerous areas and differentiate them from eczema/psoriasis. It was only during the application of the photosensitive solution that a clinician explained this would be an equivalent of Efudex, and I was enthusiastic that the material wasn't toxic like Efudex.

My facial/scalp skin was scrubbed with acetone, then after a two hour cure of the photosensitive matieral (20% aminolevulinic) the UV light--I had been warned--would be and was intense, but I withstood the entire 20 minute exposure.

My skin is thin from steroid use (I have many other health issues) as well as fair and burns easily. The clinician told me to avoid sun exposure for 3 days. It was Noon and I had 3 other appointments which ran until after 4:00 p.m. So I was exposed to sunlight for close to 3 hours even though I wore a hat. As well I lived 3 hours from the clinic and was exposed to indirect California sun for another three hours. That was, I feel, my mistake and I suffered for it. I slathered petroleum jelly every two hours for 5 days due to the intensity of the burns, some of which were open sores.

My skin was initially much more damaged than others who've posted photos here. I'm not going to post the photos because I feel it would misrepresent the procedure if you follow the instructions, but I had blistering, bleeding, swelling and instense itching and pain for the next three days. That was amplified due to my sensitive skin. And I take full responsibility for it. Numerous AK's and problematic areas were apparent, and I feel will improve as a result of this treatment.

The first few days I asked myself, "Could I do this again?" And it's only today that I feel I could consider answering "yes." That's largely because photodynamic therapy is more thorough and convenient than Efudex, as well it isn't toxic. But in this case, it was painful.

I will update in a week.