What Is Photodynamic Therapy And What Should It Be Used For?

Photodynamic therapy is a non-invasive treatment used in dermatology. It is commonly used to treat cancerous and precancerous lesions.

This type of phototherapy has many benefits and uses. In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about it!

What is photodynamic therapy?

Photodynamic therapy is a treatment that dermatologists use to treat skin problems. It consists in administering a photosensitive compound, which is a substance that is particularly susceptible to light, to the area to be treated.

Then wait for an incubation period during which the cells absorb this substance. After this time, the area to be treated is illuminated with a laser light source.

When the professional does, the photosensitive substance that they previously administered is activated. When this happens, it produces oxidative stress in the cells where it is found. This ultimately kills the altered cells, which is the purpose of the therapy.

It is a selective treatment, which means that it only attacks the selected abnormal cells. This is because the abnormal cells are better able to absorb this light-sensitive material. In addition, they remove it more slowly.

What is it for?

Photodynamic therapy is useful for the treatment of various skin diseases. As we mentioned above, it is mostly useful for genetically modified cells. In other words, it’s for cancer and precursors to cancer. Here are some of the disorders that are most effective for:

• Actinic keratosis.

• Basal cell carcinoma.
• Acne.
• Rosacea.
• Skin aging caused by the sun.
• Hydrosadenitis suppurativa (HS).

The process

Before starting, the dermatologist should clean the area to be treated. It must be a deep cleansing, so sometimes it may be necessary to resort to aggressive procedures.

When the skin is ready, the dermatologist applies the photosensitizer to the area. There are different types. Depending on the dermatologist, they expose the patient to treatment for a period that can range from 30 minutes to 5 hours.

During this time, the area will be covered with a piece of fabric. This is very important as the substance they are using does not respond to light. After the time has elapsed, the dermatologist removes the substance and washes the area again with soap and water to remove excess photosensitizer.

After completing these steps, the professional will treat the area with the type of light chosen, which will mostly depend on the type of lesion to be treated.

Is photodynamic therapy painful?

As we mentioned above, this treatment is not invasive. In other words , it does not require surgery or incisions. Nevertheless, keep in mind that this treatment consists of harmful cells. Although the most affected cells will be the abnormal ones, the treatment will also affect healthy cells.

This is because a certain amount of photosensitizer can affect the area around the lesion. Therefore, the area after photodynamic therapy may look irritated and swollen. In this case, the patient may feel pain and burning during treatment.

Advantages and disadvantages of photodynamic therapy

In conclusion, we must once again emphasize that this is a non-invasive therapy. It can help patients avoid surgery and all the risks it entails. In addition, it has been shown to be very effective in treating precancerous lesions as it can eliminate 90% of them.

On the other hand, one of its disadvantages is the cost of these photosensitizers. In addition, some patients need more treatments to completely remove the lesion, which can be inconvenient for them.

Despite this, it is becoming increasingly popular as its benefits outweigh its risks. It is a safe and fast solution for many skin diseases.