Daylight Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Daylight Photodynamic Therapy is an innovative treatment, which can be used in the treatment of:
- Actinic Keratosis
- Superficial basal cell carcinoma
- Bowen’s disease
Procedure
A light sensitising cream is applied to the affected area of the skin and left on for approximately 3 hours. The cream absorbs into the diseased cells, resulting in the accumulation of photoactive porphyrens (PAF) within the cells.
For 8–15 minutes, red light diodes are then shone onto the treated area, which selectively destroys dyslectic and cancerous cells. It may be that two treatments are necessary, one week apart from the other. However, in some cases a single treatment is sufficient.
Benefits
- An excellent cosmetic outcome
- Limited side effects
- There is a well established efficacy and safety record
- The procedure is on a day case basis
- Local anaesthesia is rarely required
