Photodynamic Therapy

(Radiesse® e Sculptra®)

Clinical Dermatology > Skin Cancer / Actinic Keratosis

Recommended to treat actinic keratosis (precancerous lesion) and some cancers with superficial lesions (Bowen’s disease and superficial basal cell carcinoma). Photodynamic therapy works by combining two types of agents, which add together: photosensitizing substances are determined on the one hand, and appropriate light source irradiation on the other.

For this specific treatment, a photosensitizing substance methyl aminolevulinate (or aminolevulinic acid) is used. Applied to the lesion, it remains there for 3 hours. During this time, the product is absorbed by precancerous or already skin cancer cells, which have high metabolism, while healthy skin cells do not.

Metabolic reactions occur from there and the affected cells become sensitive to light. The skin is then exposed to the proper light source, which will cause the destruction of sensitized cells without affecting the others. This is how treatment destroys only actinic keratosis cells and cancer cells. Healthy cells are not damaged.

This treatment is only effective on lesions up to 2 mm thick, which are the most superficial. In other types of basal cell carcinoma, photodynamic therapy is not the best treatment.

Post-treatment: Remains very visible for 7 days.

Protocol: 1 or 2 sessions.

Result: Healing of the lesions.


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