Blue light therapy - What were your experiences?

@JustinMcClanahan contacted my doctor and she said that the order was in for 16 minutes 40 seconds and not an hour. So I’m not really sure why the RN/tech were I was trying to make the appointment said an hour. I’m still super nervous since I have fair skin and always just burn in the sun. I always put sunscreen on. But I’m terrified of any possible side effects like scarring has anybody with fair skin had scarring because of the blue light?

@kslates
The newer routine is application of Levulan and immediately go under the light for 30 minutes. Almost totally painless with some tingling and just as effective as traditional Levulan for one hour and light for 16 minutes which is uncomfortable.

@kolshansky I wished that the order could be like that, but my doctor says I have to have the cream put on and then go under for 16 minutes 40 seconds. Apparently they had it wrong on my record which could’ve been really bad if I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on.

FYI: My dermatologist did immediate 30 minutes of blue light following Levulan. SEE BELOW
( AI GENERATED)
Zero-time" or zero-incubation blue light therapy is a modified, often painless, photodynamic therapy (PDT) protocol for actinic keratosis (pre-cancerous skin spots) where the activating medication (like Levulan/ALA) is applied, and the blue light treatment begins immediately, rather than waiting for the traditional 1–3 hour incubation period. This approach has been found to be effective, with similar lesion clearance rates to conventional methods, while significantly “reducing pain” and discomfort for patients.
Key Aspects of "Zero In-ubation" (Zero-Time) Blue Light Therapy:
How it Works: ALA is applied to the skin (usually the face or scalp), and blue light is immediately applied, often in two cycles of approximately 16 minutes.( I did a 30 minute session).
Reduced Pain: Because the ALA does not have time to deeply sensitize the surrounding healthy tissue during a long wait, this method is often reported to cause minimal to no pain, compared to the sting or burning sensation of conventional PDT.
Effectiveness: Studies show that a "zero-time" or ultra-short incubation (under 30 minutes) regimen provides comparable, if not superior, results in reducing actinic keratosis (AK) lesions, achieving over 75% clearance in some trials.
Patient Convenience: By eliminating the 1–3 hour waiting period, the overall office visit time is significantly reduced, decreasing patient anxiety and improving convenience.
Applications: Primarily used in dermatological settings for treating actinic keratoses (sun-damaged skin) and sometimes for severe acne.

@kolshansky thank you for the information. Unfortunately my doctor says that I can not go right under the blu light after cream is put on.

I understand. This is a relatively new approach to blue light. The studies show it is just as effective with almost no discomfort. I would discuss with your dermatologist about trying the new regimen. If he/she is not willing to try it, consult with another dermatologist who will. I would bet if your dermatologist tries it, it will become their treatment of choice.

You’re right, maybe I’ll get a second opinion thank you

I wonder which way most people are currently getting the blue light therapy done? I did ask my doctor about going right under the light but she said no I’m not sure what the real reason is.

I recently had the BLT twice. The first treatment the tech used the whole tube of ointment on my face and ears then I waited 1 1/2 hours and went under the blue light for 16 minutes. It was the longest 16 minutes of my life! Intense burning and sensation of needles prickling the skin where the worst cancers were. The end result was great as it revealed so many spots that I was not aware of but they did peal.
I went back 6 weeks later for the 2nd treatment and had a different tech. She barely applied the cream to the obvious spots that had come back but did not treat my whole face. I did not have the intense burning nor sensation of needle pricks as before but I guessed it was because I had the treatment earlier. The only pealing I had was on my forehead because the light was tilted and that area was the closest to the light. Within 1 week, I had numerous cancers visible all over my face so I made an appointment for a follow up for 2 weeks after the procedure. They did admit that they needed to give more training on the procedure but I’m not sure if that was said to just appease me at the time. I was given 3 options- do the BLT again, freeze the obvious spots or chemo cream. Since it’s the beginning of summer, I chose freezing and will do the chemo cream this fall.
I have said all this to say that based on my experience there is obviously a right way & a wrong for the treatment to be done!

@chrisnfla
Dermatologists are now using a new protocol with minimal discomfort
The Levulan is applied as before but the blue light is administered immediately for 30 minutes. It is equally effective and causes minimal discomfort.
Anyone undergoing blue light treatment should request this protocol.
I have had about 6-8 blue light treatments with the old regimen. My last treatment was with the updated regimen with hardly any discomfort.