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Blue light therapy - What were your experiences?
I received BLT and didn't feel anything on my face- a remote warmth on one side. I have a friend that says he feels tingles and stinging plus warmth. My Doctor said I am one of the few that it work on. I did the hour with the serum and then 16 minutes under the light.
I told the tech that I didn't feel anything and she said that was fine.
Is this normal? I ended up having to put a cream on my face for 2 weeks twice a day. Turned the whole process into an endurance test!
But I don't think the treatment was done right. So wanted to hear if anyone else had this issue. Thanks in advance!
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@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.