While you may love the 300+ days of sunshine that Tucson sees annually, your skin may see lasting damage from constant sun exposure. Even if you’re diligent about applying sunscreen each day, you’re likely to notice the sun leaving its mark, especially as you get older. In addition to dark spots, sun damage may cause vascular lesions in the skin and accelerate the development of signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. While you can’t avoid the sun living in the Southwest, you can fight back against sun damage with photodynamic therapy. This light-based treatment effectively targets dark spots and other hard-to-treat skin conditions.
If you’re interested in photodynamic therapy, El Con Health and Wellness can help you decide if it’s the right treatment for you. Our skin care specialists offer a wide range of treatment options, so you can select those that are right for your skin type and budget. Continue reading for a closer look at what photodynamic therapy can do.
Photodynamic therapy uses intense pulsed light, or IPL, which is a type of laser skin treatment that most effectively targets fast-growing skin. For that reason, it is often recommended for targeting hemangiomas, telangiectasias (spider veins), melasmas, and angiomas as well as potentially cancerous dark spots and moles. Patients with scarring, cystic acne, or rosacea may also see favorable results from IPL, especially where other treatments like topical medications have failed to provide healing.
Photodynamic therapy with IPL is a non-invasive treatment that leaves healthy skin unharmed while targeting problematic areas. There may be some mild discomfort during treatment, such as a light pinching sensation, and you may have mild skin irritation similar to a sunburn after your treatment. However, there is a low risk of damage to the skin, and any discomfort will diminish relatively quickly. Photodynamic therapy is appropriate for any area of the face or body.
When targeting sun damage, photodynamic therapy may be paired with a topical pre-treatment called Levulan. This medication is preferentially absorbed by skin cancer cells and precancerous lesions, allowing IPL to target these areas more effectively. After treatment, dark spots will crust and slough off the skin, revealing healthy skin underneath.
Wonderful service and experience overall. I recommend this place 100%. The service I’ve received at other locations does not compare. -Hannia Martinez
