We believe knowledge is power. To help you feel comfortable and prepared for your visit, we have outlined the entire process, from before your visit to the days after the procedure.
If you are under 18 years old, please bring parent/guardian, OR bring a signed consent form [link]
PDT is not recommended if you have: porphyria, known sensitivity to porphyrins, sensitivity to light or sun, pregnancy.
No preparation is necessary prior to coming in, but if you want to save some time, wash your face with a cleanser or soap and water, and do not apply any products to the skin (makeup, moisturizers, sunscreen, etc.). It is fine to come in if you do have skin products on - you can wash them off at the clinic.
If you are planning to treat the body, wear or bring clothing that can expose the area. For example, women treating the back may wear a bathing suit, sports bra, or open back shirt.
We will greet you at the front desk, answer any questions, and if you are on board we will have you complete payment (credit card, debit card, cash, venmo are all accepted) and some forms and begin the treatment.
There will be cleansers available if you need to wash off any skin products.
We will clean the skin once more with acetone, then apply the medication 5-aminolevulinic acid to the skin.
You will go to a common area called the "Dark Room" to incubate for 30-60 minutes. This low light environment allows the medication to get absorbed into the cells and get converted into the photosensitizer (compound that will be activated by light). While you wait, you can bring some headphones to listen to music or a podcast, meditate, or simply relax. We just ask that you keep noise levels down so everyone can enjoy a peaceful environment.
Once the incubation time has passed, you are free to go! There will be sunscreen available for you to apply if you would like. Then you just need to be outside somewhere you can see the sky for 2 hours. There is a park within a block of the clinic if you want to stay nearby. Or you can head to your home patio, a favorite park or garden, or any other outdoor space. The only requirement is that you can see the sky (and that you enjoy the fresh air!)
When you are done basking for 2 hours (longer is ok too), you'll want to head home or somewhere you can wash your face.
After you have gone indoors and washed your face, you will need to stay out of the sun for 48(?) hours. This means trying to stay primarily indoors if the sun is up. If you need to go outside or in a car, please apply a mineral (zinc and/or titanium based) sunscreen before going out. We also recommend applying sunscreen if you are near a window (or you can pull down the shade/blinds). This is to avoid getting a sunburn-like reaction as the photosensitizers are broken down over 1-2 days.
After the first 48 hours after the treatment, you may go about your usual outdoor activities. We do still recommend wearing mineral sunscreen for a week after the treatment if you will be outside. Most people have mild after-effects, but you may experience some purging where more acne comes out to the surface. This is normal and will improve within a few weeks. We recommend using moisturizers if you have any peeling or dryness.
Once a month has passed after the treatment, we believe many people will have noticed an improvement in their acne. However, repeat treatments have been shown to give even better results and longer lasting remission, so if your skin is not as clear as you would like, you can certainly come back for another round of treatment.