Blue Light Actinic Keratosis Treatment

According to the skin cancer foundation blue light therapy or pdt is an fda approved treatment for actinic keratosis.

Blue light actinic keratosis treatment.

Blue light therapy is an fda approved in office treatment for actinic keratoses precancerous lesions. Fluorouracil cream carac fluoroplex efudex imiquimod cream aldara zyclara ingenol mebutate gel picato diclofenac gel voltaren solaraze. Pdt has also used for acne rosacea thin nonmelanoma skin cancers sun damage enlarged sebaceous glands wrinkles warts hidradenitis suppurativa psoriasis and many other skin conditions. The blue light is of low intensity and will not heat the skin.

Actinic keratosis ak s rough scaly and potentially dangerous patches or bumps that appear on the skin surface can now be effectively treated with blue light. During the treatment we apply a topical photosensitizing drug to the skin. Prior to blue light treatment the actinic keratoses will be rinsed with tap water. Blue light therapy for actinic keratosis can help treat and reduce the number of precancers potentially reducing the number of full fledged skin cancers and helping in photo rejuvenation.

You will be given goggles to wear as eye protection during the blue light treatment. Then your doctor will point a strong red or blue light at your skin to switch on the drug and destroy the scaly. If left untreated ak s can develop into skin cancers called squamous cell carcinomas. Insurances typically cover the full cost of the treatment but this varies by insurance.

The initial approval was specifically for the treatment of actinic keratosis of the face and scalp with application of the photosensitizer followed by a timed exposure to a special blue light source. These feelings of discomfort should improve by the end of the light treatment. However during the light treatment which lasts 16 minutes you will experience sensations of tingling stinging prickling or burning of the treated spots. Blue light therapy is an effective treatment for skin conditions when used repeatedly and when the individual being treated makes maintenance appointments.

To treat a condition it takes. The blue light can render the small but not to be ignored pre cancerous patches harmless.