Photodynamic Therapy

This information will help you get ready for photodynamic therapy (PDT).

About Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment for skin lesions called actinic keratosis. Lesions are skin growths that don’t look like the skin around them. Actinic keratosis are early skin cancers. PDT is also used to treat some skin cancers on the surface of the skin, also known as superficial skin cancers.

PDT has 2 steps:

Preparing for Your Treatment

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Are allergic to soy.
• Take any medications. You may have to stop taking some of your medications because they may change the way PDT works. Tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following:
  • Medications that require a prescription.
  • Medications that don’t require a prescription (over-the-counter medications).
  • Retinoids (compounds found in eye creams, serums, and moisturizers).
  • Herbal remedies.
  • Vitamins.
  • Dietary supplements.
  • Antibiotics you take now, or if you recently took an antibiotic.
• Have a history of oral or genital herpes. This can include cold sores, fever blisters, or shingles (viral infection that causes a rash) that keep coming back.
• Currently have a cold sore or shingles outbreak.
• Have porphyria, a rare disorder that makes your skin sensitive to the sun.
• Are allergic to 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA).
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medication has not been used with pregnant women, so we don’t know if it’s safe.
• Are sensitive to light or the sun.

The Day of Your Treatment

During your treatment

After Your Treatment

Everyone responds differently to this treatment. For 1 to 2 weeks, you may have the following things on the treated area(s):

• Redness that feels like a sunburn
• Slight swelling
• Peeling
• Itching
• Scaling
• Crusting
• Tingling
• Oozing

You may also have mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills (feeling cold and shivering), or body aches. If you have any flu-like symptoms, call your healthcare provider.

Caring for yourself at home

Follow the guidelines below to help manage side effects.

• Apply a cool compress (such as a cold cloth or ice pack) to the treated area a few times a day for the first 24 hours (1 day). To do this:
  1. Take a clean washcloth and dip it into room temperature or cool water.
  2. Then, wring it out and gently apply it to the treated area.
  3. When the cool sensation goes away, soak the cloth again, and repeat these steps.
• Starting the day after your treatment, use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser (such as Cetaphil®, Dove®, Basis®, or Eucerin®) to clean the treated area. Use a clean towel to pat your skin dry and avoid rubbing the area. Then, apply a moisturizer (such as Cetaphil, Lubriderm®, Aquaphor®, or Vaseline®) to the area to keep your skin moist.
  • Storing your moisturizer in the refrigerator can increase the cooling effect.
• If you have discomfort after your treatment, take an over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), or aspirin. You may be allergic to these medications, or can’t take them due to a medical condition. If so, talk with your healthcare provider about which medication to take instead.
• You can also take an antihistamine (such as Benadryl ®) to help with any itchiness or swelling. Talk with your healthcare provider before taking this.
• For 48 hours after your treatment, don’t expose the treated area to bright light. This includes avoiding:
  • Direct sunlight.
  • Indirect sunlight.
  • Very bright indoor lights (such as spotlights, photocopy machines, and medical exam lights). Normal house lighting is OK.
  • Blue light. Don’t sit very close to a bright computer or television screen.
• If you must be outside after your treatment, protect the treated area from the sun. If you can’t cover the treated area, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 directly on the area. Broad-spectrum means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. If the treated area is on your face, wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• After 48 hours (2 days), continue to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 on the treated area.
• If a scab forms on the treated area, don’t remove or pick at it. Apply a moisturizer such as Aquaphor®, Vaseline®, or Cetaphil®.
• Return to the office for your follow-up appointment as instructed by your healthcare provider.

Call Your Healthcare Provider if You:

• Have a fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher with or without chills.
• Have redness, swelling, peeling, scaling, cracking, crusting, tingling, oozing, or drainage that becomes unbearable or lasts for more than 2 weeks.
• Have mild flu-like symptoms that get worse or don’t go away.
• Have worsening pain, or pain that won’t go away.
• Develop blisters, open sores, scaling, or crusting on the treated area.
• Have any questions or unexpected problems.