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Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), Radiofrequency (RF) Skin Tightening and Fractionated Laser Treatments
Cosmetic Dermatology Update

Martin H. Kay MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery
Keck School of Medicine, USC

The field of Cosmetic Dermatology, the science and art of making our skin younger looking and more healthy, is really thousands of years old. Women of means and stature used natural ingredients to lighten their skin, remove unwanted hair and make their skin smoother. Women in the late 1800's and early 1900's used sun avoidance to prevent skin damage and aging effects. There have been numerous scientific and technological advances since then but the goals are essentially the same. In this column I hope to educate our readers about what is new, what is real and what is not.

Three of the most exciting recent advances in rejuvenating our skin and treating difficult skin problems are Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), Radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening, and fractionated laser treatments. Both types of skin treatments can be used in all ages, all skin types and in men and women.

PDT is the name for a technique where a chemical called Amino-levulinic acid (ALA) is put on the face or other area of skin, left on for 30-60 minutes and then the skin is exposed to a pure blue color florescent light for 10 minutes. The treatment is painless and, rarely, there is redness of the skin for 1 day. When treatments are performed monthly, it can take 3-4 treatments to clear a serious acne problem, remove years of sun damaged skin, or remove blotchy skin coloration. This completely safe procedure for young and old is replacing many of our treatments that have more potential side effects.

RF treatments of the skin have been around for a few years and are often called the non-surgical alternative to the facelift. Thermage was the first technique to be used, but it was very painful and results were not worth the cost. Now, the inventor of many of our standard laser machines has come out with a much gentler and more effective RF device called the ELOS. RF and Infrared energies are used simultaneously on the skin to achieve quicker and safer results. People can see and feel the skin tightening and lifting right after one treatment. The final results even get better after a few months.

In the last 2-3 years a totally new innovation in resurfacing lasers was developed and tried all over the world on all skin types and genetics. The first to be developed is called the "Fraxel" laser and now there are a few other companies imitating their results. In short, we can now get the dramatic results of a deep resurfacing laser with out the weeks of healing time and discomfort. It may take 3-4 sessions with these lasers but each session is almost painless and one only experiences 1 day of redness and swelling.

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