What is the best light source for PDT?

No one has done a head to head study so the answer is we don't know which one is the best, though I do think they all work. The most important factor is the experience that the provider has with Levulan.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

There are several commonly used light sources for PDT including the Blue light (Blu-U), Red Light, IPL and pulsed dye laser. To some extent the answer to your question depends on your skin type and the safety of the treatment. We activate lighter skin types with a pulsed dye laser because it is more powerful. We activate darker skin types with the Blu-U because it is safer. More than likely, the physicians are only suggesting that they activate you with a certain light source because they do not have anything else. There may not be a lot of research comparing these light sources against each other so we are not sure there is a simple answer to your question.

Published on Jul 11, 2012