Photodynamic therapy such as IPL laser treatments or photo-rejuvenation, appear to cause molecular changes in aging skin that stimulate collagen production and improve skin appearance, says a U.S. study. In photodynamic therapy, a photosensitive drug 5-aminolevulinic acid, after topical application is activated when exposed to a source of light.

Several doctors have used photodynamic therapy to treat patients between 54 and 83 years of age with skin sun-damaged. In this study, before treatment was applied, the degree of damage to the skin of patients was ranked and tissue samples were taken from their forearms. We applied a solution containing 5-ALA to the damaged skin and left on for three hours.

Skin was then cleaned and treated with a pulsed light laser. Patients were followed for a period of six months. Tissue samples showed that treatment increased by five times the levels of a protein that is believed to play an important role in the growth and development of new skin cells and there was an increase in the thickness of the outer layer of skin.

Archives of Dermatology - Health Day News / Dr. Tango