Photodynamic therapy with LED systems

The photodynamic therapy with high-energy light-based systems effectively treats basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis and other light-induced skin lesions.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with a LED system is a non-invasive, highly effective treatment option for actinic keratosis and other pre-cancers as well as basal cell carcinomas. PDT selectively destroys epidermal and dermal tumor cells and even treats large areas safely with excellent clinical and aesthetic results.

Active principle of PDT

PDT involves three key components: light of an appropriate wavelength, oxygen and a photosensitizer — a light-activable substance. The photosensitizer or its precursor (e.g. ALA or MAL) is applied to the affected areas. It is selectively absorbed by tumor cells because of their higher metabolism. When the light is applied, oxygen and the photosensitizer react and build toxic substances, mainly aggressive oxygen species. These substances damage the affected skin cells, which die and fall off. The surrounding, healthy skin is not damaged, because the photosensitizer does not accumulate in healthy skin cells. During the quick, scar-free healing, the treated area is covered by new, healthy skin.

Quantel Derma’s platform system LEDA uses high-energy LED applicators with very intense light. This shortens the treatment time and makes the treatment highly efficient. Normally it takes only one or two sessions with a few weeks interval to completely remove all changed tissue.

Quantel Derma offers different LED applicators with two wavelengths for PDT: Blue light with a wavelength of 415 nm is used to treat the skin surface; red light with a wavelength of 635 nm is used to treat deeper skin layers.

Treat changed tissue – protect healthy skin

The treatment has only minimal side effects and is normally very well tolerated. Light and photosensitizer only affect the mutated tumor cells, not the healthy skin cells. During the treatment, your patients might feel slight burning in the treated areas. This is reduced actively by a cold air cooling. Directly after the treatment, the building of erythema is possible but they normally disappear after only a few hours.

The lesions usually disappear after some days, revealing new, healthy skin. PDT with intense light systems avoids the negative accessory symptoms of traditional treatment options for actinic keratosis such as pain, heavy inflammations or scars.

Our systems for photodynamic therapy (PDT)

LEDA HP 415 blue Applicator for LEDA platform system Handpiece with high-power LEDs Intense blue light for acne treatment For effective PDT of the skin surface

LEDA HP/SCR 635 red Applicators for LEDA platform system With red high-power LEDs Treatment screen or handpiece For PDT and faster wound healing