PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Description

The application is very straightforward and consists of two phases:

• In the first phase, the dermatologist prepares the skin lesion when necessary and then applies a cream containing a photosensitive active ingredient. The area is then covered to facilitate the penetration of the product and to shield the skin from light while the photosensitizer is left to incubate for 1 to 3 hours, depending on the lesion being treated.
• In the second phase, after the incubation period, the area to be treated is cleaned and then illuminated with a red light lamp for 10 minutes.

Photodynamic therapy is primarily used for treating superficial non-melanoma skin cancer, but it has many other applications in dermatology, mainly in skin rejuvenation, acne, and other inflammatory and infectious diseases.