(Eric Towne Square)
120 Hebron Avenue
Suite 200
Glastonbury, CT 06033
The Plastic Surgery Center is proud to offer this new treatment for acne utilizing Dusa Blue Light. Patients sit in front of the Dusa Blue Light System for approximately 16 minutes wearing special eyewear. When used in conjunction with a topical medicine called Levulan®, the Levulan® is applied before the treatment and left on the skin about 30 to 40 minutes. The Levulan® is then washed off and then the patient sits in front of the Dusa Blue Light for approximately 8 to 12 minutes. This is usually referred to as Photodynamic Therapy (PDT).
The Dusa Blue Light is 400mm wavelength light but looks and feels like standard fluorescent lighting. The Dusa Blue Light usually does not cause any discomfort during or after treatments. For some patients, the blue light will feel only slightly warm during treatment. If Levulan® is used, patient may feel a mild stinging of a mild burning sensation during treatments. The skin may turn slightly pink for a couple of days after treatment but this usually only happens if Levulan® is used in conjunction with the Blue Light. If Levulan® is used in conjunction with Blue Light, mild crusting may occur in the days after treatment and occasionally the acne will look worse for a few days before improvement begins. However, if you use Levulan® you will probably optimize the reduction in your acne over time.
.
Dusa Blue Light is used to treat either acne or actinic keratoses. For severe cases of these diseases, your practitioner may recommend Luvulan or ALA (amino levulinic acid) be used in conjunction with the Blue Light Acne Treatment. Actinic keratoses (AK) is a pre-cancerous skin lesion, which left untreated, may develop into a skin cancer.
Many patients are not comfortable with the potential adverse effects of long-term use of medication. Antibiotics in particular may lead to resistant strains of bacteria leaving certain antibiotics useless in preventing and combating disease when they are needed most. This may become increasingly the case when we allow our teenagers to be put on long-term antibiotic therapy for acne.
Some medications like Accutane®, which is used for severe cases of acne, are so potent that the patient’s blood levels must be monitored during treatment. It would be nice if these types of medications could be avoided.
Bacteria multiplying in the sebaceous glands that surround hair follicles cause acne. The results range from the common pimple to severe acne. The key is to get rid of the bacteria while not harming the skin. Some people use topical creams, special cleansers, or even opt for oral medication. However these solutions do not work for everybody for a myriad of reasons. The Dusa Blue Light is an amazing treatment that eliminates the bacteria that causes acne. When the skin is exposed to Dusa Blue Light, the light enters the sebaceous glands that harbor the bacteria. In turn the sebaceous gland create oxygen molecules that then destroy the bacteria and help the healing process. With the bacteria gone, the acne begins to clear up and the skin begins to heal.
After the initial treatment your skin may be slightly pink for an hour or so. In the first week your acne may look no better or slightly worse. As the treatments progress, you should start to see a slow, methodical improvement in your acne condition. If Levulan® was used in conjunction with Dusa Blue Light, or if was used alone, scabbing may occur as the acne lesions heal, but this will end when the treatments are completed.
Please visit The Plastic Surgery Center on the day of your Blue Light Acne Treatment wearing no make-up. Please do not use creams, lotions, serums, and self-tanners or any other skin care products on the areas to be treated as the blue light may interact with these.
The following should be stopped at least one week prior to your Blue Light Acne Treatment:
Retin-A® (tretinoin), Renova®, Kinerase®, all topical retinoids, other exfoliating drugs
Electrolysis
Waxing
Depilatories
Masks/Facials
Hair dying treatments
*Please let us know if you have any facial tattoos, as these will be covered prior to treatment.
*All facial piercings will have to be removed for the treatment.
(Your suntan must be at least two weeks old. This includes tanning beds and self-tanners)
(We do not usually treat young children)
*IF YOU ARE RECEIVING LEVULAN® WITH YOUR TREATMENT you must bring a hat with you (wide brimmed or a baseball cap) and a pair of sunglasses.
| Blue Light Acne Treatment per session | $110.00 |
| Blue Light package (price includes eight treatments) | $800.00 |
| Blue Light plus Microdermabrasion per session (no package price available) | $220.00 |
| Blue Light Acne Treatment with Levulan® per session | $250.00 |
| Blue Light Acne Treatment with Levulan® package (price includes three treatments) | $725.00 |
| Blue Light Acne Treatment with Microdermabrasion and Levulan® per session | $375.00 |
| Blue Light Acne Treatment with Microdermabrasion and Levulan® package (price includes three treatments) | $1,000.00 |
For more information on Blue Light Acne Treatment or to schedule a consultation, contact The Plastic Surgery Center today!