Are photodynamic therapy and intense pulse light therapy (IPL) the same?

Thanks for your inquiry.
Photodynamic therapy is a non-invasive skin treatment used to treat sun damaged skin, moderate to severe cystic acne, and superficial skin cancers. Photodynamic therapy uses intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) to increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen production.

Levulan photodynamic therapy involves the application of an amino acid that reacts to LED blue light. This treatment has been approved by the FDA for actinic keratosis, but is sometimes prescribed off-label for acne. So in essence PDT and IPL work hand in hand in collagen production but in case of Acne, only specific type of Blue light LED must be used and not IPL!

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Photofacial (IPL) is a specific type of laser treatment for photorejuvenation. Photodynamic therapy is a treatment where the area is painted with a light sensitizing medication called Levulan. Then you let it set on the area you are treating for anywhere from 20 minutes to 6 hours or over night. It depends on what you are treating. I incubate the patient for
20 minutes for skin rejuvenation, acne treatments and pre-skin cancers. I use 6 hours for treating Basal cell carcinoma and superficial Squamous cell carcinomas.

Then you treat the patient with different types of laser light. You can use IPL, LED, or pulsed dye laser. The medication enhances your results.When you use Levulan the area medicated is light sensitive for a couple of days so all sun exposure to the area must be avoided.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment. The treatment involves using
a photosensitizing antibiotic (ALA or amino levulinic acid) that is
placed onto the skin. After this antibiotic has had time to skin in, a
Blu-light, IPL or pulsed dye laser is used to "activate" the antibiotic
with light. The treatment is currently FDA approved for precancerous
cells, but is also commonly used for acne. When someone refers to an
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) they are usually referring to a type of light
based equipment. So, PDT is a treatment and IPL is a machine, that's
the basic difference.

Regards,

Published on Jul 11, 2012