Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Skin problems nowadays are being resolved by the practice of various treatments. Latest techniques and procedures are being developed based on updated researches and technological development which can be directly used on those particular areas only and not other part of the body should get affected.
Photodynamic therapy or PDT is a recent development in the field of skin treatments. Most of the skin problems are related with the tightening of the skin or extreme sensitivity of the cell. So in this method a special chemical is used for protecting the cells of the skin and making them light by reducing their sensitivity.
Photosensitising is the drug which is used which is injected inside the body and it through this drug only that the treating agent or the chemical is injected inside the body. This is the procedure for injecting the treatment inside the internal portions of the skin but many patients are afraid of swelling etc which is seen in many cases.So there is another alternative for them. The treatment can be applied instead of directly injecting inside. It is available in the form of a cream which needs to be applied over the affected areas. The basic purpose is to help the skin in absorbing the required drug which is present in the cream which is being applied. This application is helpful in making the cells light.
Before the invention of this technique patients were generally advised for being treated through surgical methods like laser or beam light operation but the effect of this thing would be such that instead of treating the problem it would worsen the person’s condition by making the cells die rather than getting corrected.
According to a report from National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence PDT is and effective treatment for curing skin cancers. Skin cancer is of various types so it depends on the doctor to choose the best one among all according to the severity level of the condition. They have proved this research with various cases as evidences where the patient who was suffering from skin cancer was treated properly by the practice of PDT. But it is mentioned in the researches that PDT is not recommended for cases where patients are suffering from squamous cell skin cancer.
Risk factor is much higher in these cases and there are no evidences or any assurance that the person would get cured or not. It’s quite possible that the cancer would reappear. The treatment can be used as creams also but this thing is not possible to be done in few types of cancers like basal cell skin cancer, Bowen’s disease and even solar keratosis, which is also called as actinic keratosis.
PDT is a substitute to the surgical method of treating skin cancer and it is effective in cases where the problem is much more severe. Skin cancers generally can be treated only by surgery but it would not happen if there is a possibility of treating the disease by PDT.
Things which can possibly happen:
After undergoing the treatment there are possibilities that the patient would have to suffer from weird feelings which could be as if his skin is burning due to the ultraviolet rays of the sun etc. It emerges after around twenty four hours and all this is due to the ALA’s photosensitivity. The skin might have to suffer through peeling etc after a week’s time or may be within a week only.
They can be removed positively with proper can and protection which is advised to be taken after the treatment gets over. The skin would undergo a proper change. There are possibilities of getting dark spots which are called as liver spots also. These pigmented patches would get resolved by the time and attention and the result would be normal skin without any injuries or things like that. The patient should himself have all the knowledge about this and should be properly careful so as to minimise further risk and problems.
