Daylight photodynamic therapy (DPT) is a treatment method used to repair sun damaged skin on the face, scalp and neck.
The primary aim is to prevent skin cancers from arising but this treatment also helps skin to look and feel better. At North Queensland Skin Centre we use 5-Aminolevulinic acid cream (5ALA) which has the best evidence for clearance of solar keratoses or ‘sun spots’.
This cream is photosensitive - it is activated by light. Traditionally lamps have been used for the activation process but in recent years research has shown that sunlight is just as effective at activating the cream and is much better tolerated than the lamps.
The cream is preferentially taken up by the sun damaged cells, and spares normal skin. Visible light then turns the medication into a toxic metabolite which causes the damaged cells to die off and the healthy cells regenerate.
Your doctor will issue a prescription for the cream and it is compounded by a pharmacist. The cream is brought to your doctor who will apply it to the affected areas along with sunscreen.
Sunscreen will block the damaging UV radiation to prevent burning and further damage. However the visible photons of light will still reach the skin and activate the cream. The patient then goes outside into direct sunlight for 2 hours. After 2 hours the cream is washed off and it is best to stay out of the sun for the rest of the day. By that evening there is usually a reaction of redness and occasionally crusting, it is not painful though can be uncomfortable. As it spares normal skin the reaction tends to be ‘blotchy’ It is important to moisturise regularly afterwards. By day 3 the reaction has peaked and there is a peel. The skin has normally regenerated and the redness has subsided by 7 -10 days.
There are several treatments available to treat sun damaged skin nowadays. Daylight photodynamic therapy is often our preferred method. Compared to other creams it is fast, convenient, well tolerated and effective. It can only be used on the face, scalp and neck so other methods are best used on the body.
For more information or to find out if this treatment is for you please make a booking with one of our doctors for a skin check.