Daylight Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

As the Spring comes in, we are all imagining the lockdown easing enough for outdoor exercise and long walks in beautiful locations. We should also be thinking that it’s time to stock up on fresh sunscreen and protect our skin. We do want to keep our vitamin D levels up and there are plenty of dietary supplements and fortified foods to help with this. In addition, its time to sort out those precancerous skin lesions, particularly actinic keratoses (solar keratoses) with some daylight PDT. In the U.K., this treatment works best between March to October, when we can use the natural daylight to activate the medication (aminolevulenic acid known as Metivix (R) or Amelux (R) - learn more here). This is a very effective treatment and leaves the skin feeling much smoother as the rough keratoses and horns shed off. This treatment must be prescribed by a dermatologist and you can consult one at Skin55 or be referred by your own dermatologist. (Other treatment options are available).

Skin solutions after lockdown

Get ready to come out of lockdown and get your skin to where you want it to be. Treat those lines and wrinkles, remove blemishes and pigmented marks and rejuvenate and brighten your skin. Get head of the rush and start planning post lockdown treatments. Fill in the contact form for an informal enquiry.

I want photodynamic therapy! Why should you be considering this alternative to skin cancer surgery?

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy is an excellent non-surgical treatment which is ideal for some skin cancers or areas of skin that have been damaged by the sun over time and have the potential to turn into skin cancer. You may have been given the diagnosis of actinic keratosis (AK), superficial basal cell carcinoma (superficial BCC) or Bowen’s disease for these lesions. It is possible that a number of other non-visible areas of sun damage exist within your skin around these lesions. These areas are called ‘field change’.

How does it work?

The advanced science behind this treatment uses a combination of light (either natural sunlight or from a special lamp) and a topical cream/gel applied to the lesions. The topical treatment is absorbed into the damaged skin cells - when this cream is activated by the light, the abnormal cells are destroyed but healthy cells are left unaffected. PDT is particularly effective in treating ‘field change’ as the cream is absorbed by damaged cells we cannot see in the skin. One of the other positive side effects of PDT is that it’s also effective in reducing other signs of sun damage such as fine lines, sun spots and texture changes.

How do I get it ?

This is a prescription treatment, prescribed by your dermatologist. At Skin55, we have several dermatologists with expertise in using photodynamic therapy who can diagnose your skin condition and discuss your treatment options with you.

What is recovery like?

Whilst PDT is classed as a non-invasive treatment it can be uncomfortable and may require some downtime depending on the extent of the areas treated and the level of your usual activity.

Your skin will be very red and mildly swollen for a few days after the treatment and may look worse before it gets better. Crusting and peeling is normal, so you might want to take a few days off work or avoid timing the treatment when you have social events to give your skin time to recover in private. It’s normal to have some redness and irritation for up to 10 days after the treatment and you should protect your skin from sunlight or UV raditation as it will be extra sensitive for about 6 weeks.

Should I have a biopsy first ?

We recommend that you have a biopsy of the area to be treated if this is possible to confirm the lesion is suitable - for solitary skin growths this should be straightforward but for large areas, for example the scalp, it may not be practical to have a biopsy.

We offer two types of PDT (daylight and lamp) for more information visit our PDT page.

Fact or fiction? "You can't have laser if you have black skin"

Well the truth is, the statement should be "you can't have certain types of laser if you have black skin"

Laser treatments have proven to be very beneficial in the treatment of a variety of medical skin conditions and also useful for rejuvenation and cosmetic treatment. Lasers are widely used to treat birthmarks, broken veins, acne, acne scarring, ingrowing hairs, hair removal, keloid scars, pigmentation and the list goes on!

Only certain types of laser can be used safely in darker skin, as the risk of burning in darker skin is relatively high. We regularly meet patients who have attended a laser facility and been told they can't be treated. Or because of excessive caution and lack of understanding from the laser operator, the patient is treated with too little laser energy so even after multiple treatments they do not see any benefit. In worst cases, the patient may have treatment but end up with blisters, burns, scars and pigmenation changes from inappropriate lasering.

The myth "you can't have laser if you have black skin" arose from these clinics and practitioners who choose not to treat darker skinned individuals due to the type of lasers they have or lack of knowledge/experience.

Which lasers can be used?
To treat dark skin successfully, the main skill is to be able to pass the laser beam through the surface of the skin without burning the skin surface.

Lasers which have a short wavelength are widely used to treat light skinned patient but these will definitely burn darker skins.

Lasers which have a long wavelength, such as Nd:YAG or Erbium can pass through the surface of dark skin without burning it.

What can be treated?
Our most commonly requested laser treatments from dark skinned patients are for hair removal, pigmentation and scars. We can safely treat all of these conditions with the longer wavelength lasers.

Ingrowing facial hair
Carlton, 27 years old, has had ingrowing hairs on his neck for about 15 years. These are painful and frustrating because he develops infections and boils in the neck area where the hairs in-grow. He’s worried about getting keloid scarring has he has seen friends develop keloids on their face.

Solution: Nd:YAG laser hair removal to clear the neck of ingrowing hairs. He has thick strong black hair and African dark skin tone which will need a specialist long wavelength laser.

Acne scarring
Ebere, 32 years old, has been looking for treatment for her facial acne scars, which she finds get her down. Her acne has been successfully treated but the indented scars remain. She has previously looked into lasering and chemical peels, but has been told her skin is too dark.

Solution: Erbium:Glass laser to treat the acne scars and improve her facial contour. This laser can penetrate deeply enough to stimulate the collagen to improve the acne scars, but still not damage the skin surface of dark skinned patients.

More information:
If you would like more information on whether your skin is suitable for laser treatment or about lasering dark skin types, please contact us.

Join us for a free skin and mole check - 30th October 2017

After the success and popularity of our free skin screening day in August we are running another event on 30th October. 

Skin cancer incidence continues to increase in the UK and over 100 000 people are newly diagnosed with the disease every year.

As part of your visit your skin will be examined, we will provide education on how to check your skin and what changes to look out for and also give advice on how to stay safe in the sun.
Should any lesions require further assessment you will be advised to book to see a dermatologist or visit your GP. 

You can walk in any time between 9am - 5pm but booking is advisable, as priority will be given to those who have booked. Call 0203 757 5631 to book your place.

Join us for a free skin and mole check - 21st August

We are offering free skin screening with our Skin Cancer Nurse Specialist Rebecca on 21st August.

Skin cancer incidence continues to increase in the UK and over 100 000 people are newly diagnosed with the disease every year.

As part of your visit your skin will be examined, we will provide education on how to check your skin and what changes to look out for and also give advice on how to stay safe in the sun.
Should any lesions require further assessment you will be advised to book to see a dermatologist or visit your GP. 

You can walk in any time between 9am - 5pm but booking is advisable, as priority will be given to those who have booked. Call 0203 757 5631 to book your place.

New walk in nursing service @ Skin55

We are pleased to announce our new walk in nursing service.

Our skilled dermatology nurses are now available without prior appointment on Wednesday and Thursday mornings between 9:30am - 11:30am.

Services available include:
Wound care and dressing changes
Suture/ clip removal
Pregnancy testing (including letter detailing results for patients on Roaccutane)
MRSA sceening and other swabs which may be required.
Blood pressure testing, height and weight measurement

Should you require an appointment to see our nurses outside of these times please call and we would be happy to accommodate you.