If you have a precancerous growth that needs to be treated, it’s important to know your options. Blu-light therapy is one of many treatment options that is particularly good at treating large areas of pre-cancerous growths.
Located in Orlando, we at Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center know that informed patients are good patients. Contact us today for more information about treatments for precancerous growths, or schedule a consultation.
How Can Blu-Light Therapy Combat Pre-Cancerous Growths?
Blu-light therapy consists of two components: a topical photosensitizing agent and light. The photosensitizing agent is applied to the area containing the precancerous growths and is allowed to soak deep into the skin for a period of time lasting between 30 minutes and two hours.
Once it has soaked in, a specific wavelength of light is shone on the patient. As soon as this light hits the areas that have been treated with the photosensitizing agent, the agent is activated and goes to work killing the pre-cancerous cells in the treated area. Patients are exposed to this light for approximately 17 minutes.
During this treatment, patients report feeling tingling, stinging, or burning sensations. Though these symptoms usually subside by the end of the treatment, they can persist for up to 24 hours.
What are the Benefits of Using Blu-Light Therapy?
Blu-light therapy is particularly effective on certain kinds of pre-cancerous growths. Because it uses light and a photosensitizing solution, this treatment is particularly well-suited for treating pre-cancerous growths that are diffused over a large area. Blu-light is currently only approved by the FDA to treat pre-cancerous lesions on the scalp and face.
If you’re looking for a treatment option that is not as aggressive as topical chemotherapy but is still effective, Blu-light therapy may be the right fit for you. While topical chemotherapy can leave you with painful, crusty wounds that persist for months, the side effects of Blu-light therapy usually subside within a few weeks.
Are there any Downsides?
No treatment is perfect, and Blu-light therapy is no exception. While it can effectively treat large areas and involves little downtime, more patients report pain than in cryotherapy — an alternate treatment that utilizes concentrated freezing with liquid nitrogen. Another downside is the length of treatment: Because it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for the photosensitizing agent used in this procedure to be absorbed, and then the time spent under the light is about 17 minutes, the total time spent in the office for this appointment is a bit lengthy.
Contact us today if you’re interested in learning more about Blu-light therapy or if you would like to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you achieve healthier skin and a happier you.