Photodynamic Therapy

Precancerous and low-risk cancerous lesions increase your risk of developing more invasive skin cancer in the future. Treating these lesions early is essential to preserve your health. At Dr. Jennifer Armstrong’s office in Orange County, photodynamic therapy is available to remove precancerous lesions, like actinic keratosis, and certain cancers. 

Photodynamic therapy can help protect against developing more invasive skin cancer from precancerous or even low-risk lesions.

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What is Photodynamic Therapy?

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a safe and effective non-surgical treatment for low-risk cancers and pre-cancerous lesions. Patients who are suffering from actinic keratosis or superficial skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma can benefit from PDT by treating their skin cancer with a high success rate and low risk of long-term side effects. The secret behind PDT lies in its ability to photosensitize medication, oxygen, and light, to create a photochemical reaction that selectively destroys cancer cells and minimizes injury to normal skin cells. 

Photodynamic therapy can help protect against developing more invasive skin cancer from precancerous or even low-risk lesions.

Dr. Jennifer Armstrong and her professional medical team give PDT the stamp of approval for patients who wish to maintain the look and feel of their surrounding healthy skin and minimize the risk of being left with scars following their skin cancer treatment.

What are the Benefits of

Photodynamic Therapy?

  • Non-invasive skin cancer treatment
  • No general anesthesia, cutting, or scarring
  • High success rate among mild skin cancers
  • Minimizes healthy tissue loss
  • Little to no downtime and recovery period

What Can I Expect During my Photodynamic Therapy Treatment?

Your photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatments will be performed by one of our expert medical professionals in our state-of-the-art facility. Your PDT treatment will begin with your medical team member administering a specially formulated photosynthesizing solution into the veins via injection or IV. This chemical photosynthesizer will be chosen specifically for you based on your body and the location of your cancerous or pre-cancerous lesion. You will be asked to come back one to three days later to receive the “photo” portion of your PDT treatment, during which time a specialized LED light will be directed towards your treatment area. A chemical reaction will occur within the skin and the cancerous skin cells will be eliminated. We may recommend more than one “photo” therapy session depending on the size and severity of your lesion.

Photodynamic therapy can help protect against developing more invasive skin cancer from precancerous or even low-risk lesions.
Photodynamic therapy can help protect against developing more invasive skin cancer from precancerous or even low-risk lesions.

What Can I Expect After my Photodynamic Therapy Treatment?

Immediately following your photodynamic therapy treatments, you may experience mild pain, swelling, and redness around your treated area. This is normal and typically resolves on its own within one to two weeks of treatment. Small pustules that resemble zits along your treated area are also normal, and should not be seen as signs of infection. You may be asked to protect your treated area from the sun for several weeks to ensure proper healing. While many patients do not experience scarring from their photodynamic therapy treatments, it is common for patients to experience hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation around their treated areas.

 

Am I a Good Candidate for

Photodynamic Therapy?

If you are suffering from a mild case of skin cancer and are interested in a non-invasive procedure to treat it, photodynamic therapy may be right for you. Ideal candidates for photodynamic therapy are in general good health and have realistic expectations of their results. If you’re unsure whether photodynamic therapy is right for you, we encourage you to come in for a private consultation. One of our expert team members will be happy to sit down with you, listen to your concerns, evaluate your skin, and develop a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve your ultimate skin health goals.

How Much Does Photodynamic

Therapy Cost?

The cost of your photodynamic therapy will depend on the extent of treatment needed to achieve your desired results and the coverage provided by your current health insurance plan. To get a better idea of how much your photodynamic therapy will cost, we encourage you to come in for a private consultation.

Dr. Jennifer Armstrong and her team of medical professionals are proud to offer a variety of advanced non-surgical dermatologic services to residents of Orange County, CA. Contact us to schedule your private medical or cosmetic dermatology consultation with Dr. Armstrong today.

  • Downtime: VERY MINIMAL
  • Pain Level: Very Minimal
  • Results Duration: Long-Lasting

Treats:

Pre-cancerous lesions

Side Effects:

Mild pain, swelling, and redness

Location:

Used on the face and body

Follow Up:

Some patients need more than one treatment

How Performed:

Red light is delivered into the skin through an applicator to eliminate the pre-cancerous lesion

Preparation:

Topical anesthetic available

Procedure Type:

Light therapy

Expected Outcome:

Elimination of pre-cancerous lesions

Onset:

Results are typically visible
within 2 weeks

Why Choose Jen Armstrong, MD?

Home of celebrity doctor Jen Armstrong, MD, our office offers natural-looking aesthetics to help everyone be their best self!

Celebrity Doctor

Although Dr. Armstrong is well known as a celebrity doctor, she prides herself in treating everyone the same, as if they were her own family.

    Your Best Self

    Combining western and eastern medicine, Jen Armstrong, MD, offers anti-aging from the inside out to help women and men be their best self, all with no drugs and no surgery.

    Natural looking aesthetics

    Dr. Armstrong provides natural-looking results to boost your self-confidence and help you be the best version of yourself!

    Secret RF is the next level of microneedling that uses targeted energy delivery to provide collagen stimulation and elastin growth.

    BALANCE

    BALANCE

    Non-Invasive • Drug-Free • Emsella Chair

    Dr. Jennifer Armstrong looks at the entire person when treating patients in order to help them achieve balance throughout their body.  When our body is in balance, our life is in balance.  At our state-of-the-art facility, we offer  alternative, non-invasive treatments for hormone balance, migraines, depression, anxiety, and other health conditions to help patients be their best self.

    BEAUTY

    BEAUTY

    Botox Cosmetic • Dermal Fillers • Lasers • Skincare

    At ArmstrongMD, beauty is never one-size-fits-all. We offer a complete range of injectable and laser devices, as well as medical-grade skincare, to enhance your natural beauty and help you achieve your aesthetic goals with the latest treatments in cosmetic dermatology.

    BODY

    BODY

    EmSculpt Neo • Brazilian Butt Lift • Hair Restoration

    Dr. Armstrong is a trained aesthetic medicine specialist and surgeon who performs all types of body contouring and sculpting treatments, including the non-surgical Brazilian butt lift, deoxycholic acid fat loss, and EMSCULPT NEO muscle-building and fat-reduction treatments.

    BALANCE

    Non-Invasive • Drug-Free • Emsella Chair

     

    Dr. Jennifer Armstrong looks at the entire person when treating patients in order to help them achieve balance throughout their body.  When our body is in balance, our life is in balance.  At our state-of-the-art facility, we offer alternative, non-invasive treatments for hormone balance, migraines, depression, anxiety, and other health conditions to help patients be their best self.

    BALANCE

    Non-Invasive • Drug-Free • Fast Relief

     

    Dr. Jennifer Armstrong looks at the entire person when treating patients in order to help them achieve balance throughout their body.  When our body is in balance, our life is in balance.  At our state-of-the-art facility, we offer alternative, non-invasive treatments for hormone balance, migraines, depression, anxiety, and other health conditions to help patients be their best self.

    BEAUTY

    Botox Cosmetic • Dermal Fillers • Lasers • Skincare

    At ArmstrongMD, beauty is never one-size-fits-all. We offer a complete range of injectable and laser devices, as well as medical-grade skincare, to enhance your natural beauty and help you achieve your aesthetic goals with the latest treatments in cosmetic dermatology.

    BEAUTY

    Botox Cosmetic • Dermal Fillers • Lasers • Skincare

    At ArmstrongMD, beauty is never one-size-fits-all. We offer a complete range of injectable and laser devices, as well as medical-grade skincare, to enhance your natural beauty and help you achieve your aesthetic goals with the latest treatments in cosmetic dermatology.

    BODY

    EmSculpt Neo • Brazilian Butt Lift • Hair Restoration

    Dr. Armstrong is a trained aesthetic medicine specialist and surgeon who performs all types of body contouring and sculpting treatments, including the non-surgical Brazilian butt lift, deoxycholic acid fat loss, and EMSCULPT NEO muscle-building and fat-reduction treatments.

    BODY

    EmSculpt Neo • Brazilian Butt Lift • Hair Restoration

    Dr. Armstrong is a trained aesthetic medicine specialist and surgeon who performs all types of body contouring and sculpting treatments, including the non-surgical Brazilian butt lift, deoxycholic acid fat loss, and EMSCULPT NEO muscle-building and fat-reduction treatments.

    Patients

    Love Dr. Jen

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