Reviewer: lkc303, 45-54 Female on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient)

Comment:
I am fair-skinned, with reddish blond hair, and I found both the treatment and subsequent 24 hrs to be extremely painful. The cold air during treatment definitely helped, though blowing it on my face/up my nose made me feel like I was being waterboarded. The treatment is effective, but it was very, very painful for me. My face felt like your mouth might after eating a ghost pepper. Icepacks for th ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I am fair-skinned, with reddish blond hair, and I found both the treatment and subsequent 24 hrs to be extremely painful. The cold air during treatment definitely helped, though blowing it on my face/up my nose made me feel like I was being waterboarded. The treatment is effective, but it was very, very painful for me. My face felt like your mouth might after eating a ghost pepper. Icepacks for the first 24 hours helped a lot.
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Reviewer: 45-54 on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient)

Comment:
I am a 51 year old female. I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my face at age 37 and began signs of actinic kerotosis on my nose and forehead. My doctor recommended PDT therapy with levulan to get ahead of the AKs and to prevent fugture basal cells. I was concerned with the pain.According to the tech I dont have a lot of sun damage to my face due to years of sunscreen so my reaction was m ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I am a 51 year old female. I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my face at age 37 and began signs of actinic kerotosis on my nose and forehead. My doctor recommended PDT therapy with levulan to get ahead of the AKs and to prevent fugture basal cells. I was concerned with the pain.According to the tech I dont have a lot of sun damage to my face due to years of sunscreen so my reaction was moderate. Warm but not at all painful. The after effects were like a bad sunburn, not terrible. I didnt require any medications or cold compresses. The medicine reacted the most on my nose which has probably seen the most sun damage historically. I wanted everyone to know that the pain isnt bad for everyone. It is pretty bad for some people. Its worth it because removal of certain cancers can be disfiguring. Best of luck. this is great technology.
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Reviewer: Sundamage, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 2 to less than 5 years (Patient)

Comment:
Much easier than the 6 wk ointments I’ve had to endure over the past 20 years . I’ve been using this treatment on my face now twice a year for the past 3 years - although I’m still having facial basal cells I would never go back to the ointments . I don’t find the discomfort as extreme as others have reported . I dislike the time under the lamp more. For 48 hours I live in in the dark due to the ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
Much easier than the 6 wk ointments I’ve had to endure over the past 20 years . I’ve been using this treatment on my face now twice a year for the past 3 years - although I’m still having facial basal cells I would never go back to the ointments . I don’t find the discomfort as extreme as others have reported . I dislike the time under the lamp more. For 48 hours I live in in the dark due to the photosensitivity . For me much doable then 6 weeks of hell with the ointments.
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Reviewer: Mickey, 65-74 on Treatment for 5 to less than 10 years (Patient)

Comment:
I have had repeated treatments for my actinic keratosis over 10 years. All resulted in increased redness, crustiness, as I expected as skin cells die. This is desirable. I react the most to imiquimod, but it is most painful and time consuming levulan with blue light was easiest, though I required more than one treatment. I was provided a fan, so the stinging was not bad. I knew about light avoidan ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I have had repeated treatments for my actinic keratosis over 10 years. All resulted in increased redness, crustiness, as I expected as skin cells die. This is desirable. I react the most to imiquimod, but it is most painful and time consuming levulan with blue light was easiest, though I required more than one treatment. I was provided a fan, so the stinging was not bad. I knew about light avoidance, so went home and into a darkened room, listened to music. I will go through this again, as I have so many AKs, my skin is very pale, freckled, and I am 70 years old. I keep up treatment to avoid more serious skin cancer, totally understand that killed cancer cells are going to get crusty. I used ice packs on my face as needed. I organize my life so I stay home for a few days, use sun screen, keep lights low in my home.
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Reviewer: 35-44 on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
I agree with the many comments on this procedure. The pain during/after the procedure have been greatly minimized and ill explained. I was told to stay inside completely for 48 hours but was told/read MANY different precautions (for longer periods). For example, I had my chest done first, so was able to cover it up during/after the first 48 hours; however, with my face, I was given the EXACT same ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I agree with the many comments on this procedure. The pain during/after the procedure have been greatly minimized and ill explained. I was told to stay inside completely for 48 hours but was told/read MANY different precautions (for longer periods). For example, I had my chest done first, so was able to cover it up during/after the first 48 hours; however, with my face, I was given the EXACT same directions. Hello, you can cover your chest a lot easier than your face. I asked the PA at the office what I should do to cover my face after the 48 hour period in which I thought I could rejoin society. I was told that it was highly suggested that I remain out of the sun completely or even moonlight for up to 14 days, WHAT?!! What happened to the 48 hours I had expected? And now, how do I properly prepare for the remaining 7 days? I am just thankful that I am fortunate enough to have time to take off. I am just fortunate enough to have a back yard that is fenced in for my dog. If I did not have the time/yard, I really don't know what I would do since I was NOT forewarned of the aftereffects of this procedure. I guess I will wrap a scarf around my face and hope for the best in venturing out tomorrow since I have been given no "actual" help in what I can/cannot do after this procedure. Does anyone else feel that these dermatology practices are just taking us for our money/good insurance, yet not readying us for what we truly "signed" up for? Are our insurance agencies not "watching our backs" on this one?
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