Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

PDT combines light and a light-activated drug to treat conditions like acne, psoriasis, and skin cancer.

What is it?

Our board-certified providers can use Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) to treat acne, actinic keratosis, psoriasis, skin cancer, and vitiligo. PDT starts with your dermatologist applying photosensitizing agent, also known as a light-sensitive drug. Next, our team allies a specific wavelength of light to your skin, activating the drug in hyper-targeted areas. This drug and light combination allows us to protect your healthy skin while we treat problematic areas. PDT is minimally invasive and reduces risk of scarring versus other treatment options. Meet with the Clarkston Dermatology team in Clarkston or Oxford, Michigan to see if PDT is right for you.

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY (PDT) CAN HELP WITH THESE CONDITIONS:

With the assistance of special drugs known as “photosensitizing agents,” cancer cells can become weakened when exposed to high-intensity light from a laser. During the first phase of photodynamic therapy, patients will be given the photosensitizing agents, either in pill form, as a cream, or sometimes as a liquid. The drugs are given time to be absorbed by the cells before light therapy is used to activate the photosensitizing agents and kill the cancer cells.

There are typically two stages over which photodynamic therapy is performed.

In the first stage of the treatment, patients will be given a special light-sensitive drug. Alternatively, for those receiving treatment for skin cancer, it's often a cream instead. Once patients have taken the drug, it could be as long as a few days or as short as a few hours before the drug builds up in the cancer cells. Once this happens, we move onto stage two of treatment.

In stage two of photodynamic therapy, a special light emitting from a laser is shone onto the cancer cells. When the light hits the treatment area, the drug will be activated and will go to work on killing the cancer cells. When treating internal cancers, either a scan or an ultrasound will be used instead to ensure that the tumor receives the light.

It is possible that, for a while at least, you may become sensitive to light after photodynamic therapy treatment. You’ll want to ensure that you avoid bright lights and the sun, but this will pass in time.

Photodynamic therapy can be used to treat a wide array of cancers by directing light to abnormal cells in areas such as the skin, mouth, eyes, esophagus, and lungs.

The following conditions are typically treated with photodynamic therapy:

Cancers such as mouth cancer, lung cancer, and esophageal cancer can be cured by photodynamic therapy if caught early enough; alternatively, it can offer relief for those whose symptoms have reached more advanced stages.

Skin cancer in its earliest form, known as Bowen’s disease, can be treated with photodynamic therapy.
Macular degeneration, a serious eye condition that often leads to a loss of vision, may be treated with this therapy.

Actinic keratosis, when sun damage causes dry and scaly patches of the skin, can become cancerous if not treated with photodynamic therapy.

Basal cell carcinoma, another type of skin cancer, can be treated with photodynamic therapy.

Barrett’s esophagus, a condition where cells in the lining of the esophagus change, can become cancerous if not treated early.

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Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

What is photodynamic therapy?

How does this treatment work? How is it performed?

What conditions does photodynamic therapy treat?