Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in San Diego involves three steps:

Step 1

• Medical Aesthetician Farzaneh will exfoliate your skin with Vibradermabrasion.
• Next, we wipe it with an acetone solution to strip the skin’s barrier. This helps the Levulan penetrate more efficiently.

Step 2

• Once the Levulan is applied you will incubate for 1 – 3 hours depending on your doctor’s recommendation.
• When your incubation period is over you will wash the Levulan off and your physician will begin the laser portion of the procedure.

Step 3

• Finally, we use 4 specific wavelengths of lasers (PDL, IPL, Blue Light and Red Light) to activate the medication.
• You will typically be treated with 1 – 2 lasers depending on your dermatologist’s recommendation.
• Your eyes will be protected.
• You will feel the sensation of heat (similar to grease “splattering” or rubber band “snapping” against your skin).
• Cold air is applied directly to the skin as it is being treated to help decrease sensation of heat.
• After the laser(s) you will lay under a combination of a Red & Blue Light for 15 minutes per area. You will feel the sensation of heat, similar to a sunburn, which may intensify during treatment.
• Your skin will be cooled with cold air as well as a cool mist during your treatment to minimize pain.

After your procedure:

• Your dermatologist will apply moisturizer & a generous amount of sunscreen to the treatment area after your procedure.
• When you leave our office you will need to be shielded from the daylight as much as possible (hat, sunglasses, scarf, etc.) especially if you are driving yourself. If you have someone to drive you then we suggest you sit in the back seat with something covering your face.
• Avoid sunlight and remain indoors for the rest of the day and the following day. This includes sitting by a window, skylight, or opening your front door.
• Redness & mild swelling will occur immediately after treatment. These symptoms typically peak at 48 – 72 hours, with the redness lasting up to a week. To help minimize swelling you can use ice packs and sleep with your head slightly elevated.
• Take Tylenol or Ibuprofen to minimize pain and swelling.
• Superficial peeling and/or crusting is normal and can last up to 1 week.
• If you are being treated for acne, you may experience purging which will resemble pimples or a bad breakout. Do not try and extract or “pop” them, they will subside over the next few days.
• Don’t pick, rub, or wipe the treatment area.
• Wash the treated area twice a day with a gentle cleanser. DO NOT use a washcloth or the Clarisonic to cleanse for one week.
• Apply moisturizer as often as needed to help with dryness.
• When you are able to go outside apply a sunscreen with Zinc Oxide &/or Titanium Dioxide. Protect the treated area from the sun both indoors and outdoors (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen).
• Medicine is not an exact science, and there can be no guarantees of your results. It is always a possibility that you may not get the desired result after one treatment. Additional treatments may be necessary to achieve optimal desired results.
• Follow any additional specific post treatment instructions from your physician.
• Follow up with your physician as instructed.

Read our full pre/post treatment guidelines for photodynamic therapy.

In addition to photodynamic therapy, we offer a wide range of laser treatments that are a good alternative for many skin conditions that we treat at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology.

We offer many topical and oral treatments for acne and Accure laser therapy, which targets the skin’s sebaceous glands to address acne’s root cause.

Our sister practice West Dermatology next door also offers more traditional treatments for pre-cancerous lesions, such as topical Aldara or Efudex, cryotherapy (freezing lesions off), or surgical excision.

Contact us today at for more information to schedule a PDT consultation. We are located in the UTC area of San Diego, minutes from La Jolla, Del Mar, and Downtown San Diego.

For more information about the monthly specials offered at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, visit our Promotions page.