PDT treatments are available in Gauteng at the Morningside, Parkhurst, Rosebank, Bedfordview, Fourways, West Rand, Irene, Lynnwood and Brooklyn clinics, as well as in the Western Cape at Cape Quarter, Claremont, Constantia, Century City, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Willowbridge clinics, and Kwa-Zulu Natal at the Ballito, Durban and Umhlanga clinics.
PDT therapy uses a combination of pure visible Blue, Red and Yellow light to stimulate the deeper skin tissue. Depending on the wavelength, PDT therapy can be used for
- PDT Skin rejuvenation with a combination of red (Revive) and yellow (Plus) light can treat photo aged skin leading to a softening of fine lines and improved skin tone and smoothness. PDT with red and yellow lights can also be used for wound healing before and after plastic surgery and ablative laser resurfacing.
- PDT/ALA Therapy treats precancerous skin lesions such as Actinic Keratosis, Basal Cell Carcinomas BCC and severe cystic acne. If you have multiple actinic keratosis, this treatment will be covered by your insurance.
- PDT Acne therapy uses alternating blue and red light to clear up a problem skin with no pain or downtime
- PDT Red (Revive) therapy can be used post Mela T and Mela M peels on the arms and hands to reduce inflammation. In fact it can be used post any peel to improve rejuvenation and redness.
- PDT yellow (Plus) lamp can be used post surgery on the body to improve wound healing
For all of the above, a series of treatments (the right light at the right time) is needed for optimum results.
In 2007, in the USA, the Aesthetic Trends and Technologies Choice Awards™ nominated the Omnilux Phototherapeutics the best non laser device for acne.
Omnilux PDT Rejuvenation works with the body's own natural processes to counteract the effects of ageing. The different lights target specific cells which are responsible for the synthesis and repair of the skin's supportive structures. Consequently, substances are then released that induce fibroblasts and growth factors. A combination of red and yellow light in specified sequences over a period of 5 weeks softens fine lines, improves skin's softness, smoothness, tone and clarity all with no downtime or pain. All skin types can be treated.
PDT and ALA Therapy is a treatment that combines Omnilux Red light with a photosensitizing solution ALA to improve sun damage, pre-cancerous cells (actinic keratosis), severe acne, numerous viral warts and sebaceous hyperplasia in a non-invasive, cosmetically enhancing way.
The photosensitizing solution is 20% aminolevulinic acid ALA. This is applied to the surface of the skin to be treated, where it is absorbed preferentially by abnormal or pre-cancerous skin cells as well as oil glands and pores, making these more sensitive to laser or light.
After the incubation period (the time the solution sits on the surface of the skin), Omnilux Red light source will be used to activate the solution. This combination therapy leads to a destruction or reduction of abnormal cells and excessive oil gland cells and results in healthier, smoother, and clearer skin. By applying ALA before the treatment, we can selectively target the cells we want to damage or destroy, leaving the others surrounding it intact and without harm. This will actually kill off pre-cancerous or sun damaged cells as well as reduces oil gland cell number, reducing the side of the glands.
After the treatment one must avoid sunlight and other intense light sources completely for 48 hours. The majority of people will have mild redness and minimal discomfort but about 5% will experience "sunburn" like reaction in which they are uncomfortable for 24 hours and the skin looks red and peeled for 2-3 days.
Less than 1% experiences a very severe reaction resulting in redness and peeling for 1 week and very rarely longer. This usually happens when there is severe sun damage with multiple Actinic Keratosis present.
Complete healing does take place even in these cases and no scarring has been reported. Avoidance of this reaction can be greatly enhanced by COMPLETELY AVOIDING ANY SUNLIGHT FOR 48 HOURS. If any exposure is necessary, covering up with scarves, hats, and thickly applying zinc oxide to the treated area is advised.
Pure zinc oxide should be applied to the treated area or it should be covered with clothes, hats, or scarves for 48 hours. Do not expose the area to sunlight even briefly during this time. You may experience slight redness and/or peeling. You may resume your normal skin care after the peeling stops or immediately if there is no peeling. Make up may be applied immediately after your treatment. Normal skincare can be resumed after 24 hours unless otherwise directed by your provider.
Recent phototherapy (light therapy) research using visible blue and red light has proven effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acne on the back or shoulders. Clearance rates have exceeded over 60% in a number of studies, indicating the effectiveness of this treatment.
If blue light is combined with a red light, stubborn and severe cases of acne can be treated with significantly fewer side effects and most importantly, no downtime or pain . This is a great advantage for acne sufferers. Recent research has shown that blue light therapy works by destroying the bacteria responsible for causing acne. Red light penetrates more deeply into tissue, and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Consequently, substances are then released that induce fibroblasts and growth factors. This is a positive aspect for sufferers to consider if they have a tendency to scar. Combination phototherapy works through the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory nature of blue and red light. However, only by delivering the right wavelengths in proper sequence can optimum results be seen.
In a recent study of combination blue/red light phototherapy a marked improvement in lesion counts after the final treatment was seen. There was a noticeable improvement up to 12 weeks after the final treatment session. After a series of eight sessions of alternate blue/red phototherapy (twice weekly treatments) over a four-week period, there was an average reduction of over 80% in acne counts compared to baseline, as well as a marked reduction in sebum production.
After combination therapy, optimal results are reached after the therapy has ceased. An added benefit is that the results of combination therapy are more durable. There are significantly fewer side effects and importantly no downtime, which is what most acne sufferers' desire. All skin types can be treated.
Delivering the right wavelength at the right time is crucial and the combination wavelength approach offers an effective and durable treatment that has proven helpful for moderate inflammatory acne. More importantly, blue/red combination therapy offers an option for difficult-to-treat acne cases that have failed through conventional treatments.
