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It specifies medication holds, sun-protection steps during incubation, shaving rules, clinic visit timing, side-effect management, and when to disclose contraindications or herpes simplex history.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/pre-treatment-instructions-for-photodynamic-therapy-pdt/404916/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/pre-treatment-instructions-for-photodynamic-therapy-pdt/404916.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Alex Sinclair","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-01","2026-09-27",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What skin condition should patients have and what should be avoided on the day of PDT?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Come with clean skin and no makeup, moisturizing creams, sunscreens, perfumes, or lotions on the treatment area.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How long does the PDT reaction usually last and what side effects may occur?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Expect a sunburn-like reaction that typically lasts about a week; swelling, scabbing, crusting, and mild discomfort may occur. In more exuberant reactions, healing can be longer, up to four weeks.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What should patients do about sun exposure during the 96 hours after treatment?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Use sun protective clothing and cover the treated area before leaving the office and throughout incubation, because any sun exposure—including indirect exposure—can dramatically increase risks of side effects.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},404916,1790893689,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":97,"preview_page_count":4},1099523882182,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","Pre-Treatment Instructions for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)  \nThis treatment is designed to help decrease the number of pre-cancers called actinic keratoses (AKs) .  \nDepending on the length of Levulan incubation and the amount of sun damage you have incurred over your lifetime, you can expect to have a sunburn-like reaction that usually lasts about a week. Swelling, scabbing, crusting and mild discomfort may occur. Some patients may have a more exuberant response to PDT than others and experience a much more severe sunburn-like effect. If this happens, the healing time is usually longer, up to 4 weeks. It is recommended for two sessions per treatment area, typically 4-6 weeks apart. The second session is where the majority of the results are achieved. Expect the reaction from PDT to be about 25% of the reactions you would get from creams such as Efudex or Aldara.  \nPreparation for PDT  \n1. On the day of treatment, please come to the office with CLEAN SKIN (wash area prior to appointment) and free of any makeup, moisturizing creams, sunscreens, perfumes or lotions on the treatment area.  \n2. For anyone with thick, dense hair in the planned treatment area, the treatment area should be shaved 2 days before treatment. You should not shave the treated area for at least 3 days after treatment.  \n3. Bring sun protective clothing to your appointment for the incubation period and to protect you on your way home. We suggest bringing sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and a scarf if we are treating the face or scalp. If you're having your hands or arms treated, you will need gloves and long sleeves. The risks of side effects (swelling, redness, scabbing, crusting and discomfort) increase dramatically with ANY sun exposure, including, INDIRECT exposure in the 96 hours following treatment. Plan to cover the treated area prior to leaving the office and while incubation occurs.  \n3. Plan to be in our office for 2.5 hours. This includes your incubation time of 90 to 120 minutes and Blue Light activation of about 17 minutes.  \n4. If you have a history of herpes simplex virus outbreaks (“cold sores” or “fever blisters”) in the areas being treated, make sure to let us know so we can prescribe medication to minimize the possibility of an outbreak after treatment.  \n5. Please tell us if you have any contraindications to PDT or Blue Light Therapy: including pregnancy, Lupus, porphyria, allergies, hypersensitivity to Levulan, PDT and/or 400-450 nm blue light.  \nNorth Location: 8580 Scarborough Drive, Suite 225 Colorado Springs, CO 80920  \nSouth Location: 1220 Lake Plaza Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80906  \nP: 719-531-5400 | F: 719-531-9545  \n[www.coderm.com](www.coderm.com)  \nBoard Certified Dermatologists  \nDr. Reagan Anderson Dr. Jonathan Bielfield  \nMelinda Richey, PA-C Samantha Jordan, PA-C Lea Gattoni, PA-C Haley Harkendorff, PA-C Kristin Rygg, PA-C  \n6. Discontinue use of any topical vitamin A products (retinoids or related derivatives) such as Differin, Epiduo, tretinoin (Retin-A) and Tazorac for one week before PDT. You may restart these medications 1 month after your second treatment.  \n7. Please let us know if you are taking any of the following medications as they might make your reaction more severe and increase your side effects: griseofulvin, sulfonamides (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim compounds like Bactrim or Septra), phenothiazines (medications ending in “azine;” these are anti-psychotic medications), and tetracyclines (doxycycline, tetracycline, minocycline) .  \n8. Please note that the most common side effects of treatment include scaling/crusting, lightening and/or darkening of the skin called hypo/hyper-pigmentation and itching. These symptoms usually go away after 5-7 days but may persist for several weeks.  \n9. If you are having an extremity treated, please do not wear jewelry to your appointment. You will be asked to refrain from wearing jewelry for 3 days following your treatment due to possibly swelling. Wearing jewelry can lead to","cbCaieEgw014twHB","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaieEgw014twHB","pdf",96288,"English","# Preparation for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)\n## Expected Reaction and Treatment Schedule\n## Day-of Treatment and Incubation Requirements\n## Medication, Contraindications, and Side-Effect Guidance\n## What to Bring to the Appointment","[{\"question\":\"What skin condition should patients have and what should be avoided on the day of PDT?\",\"answer\":\"Come with clean skin and no makeup, moisturizing creams, sunscreens, perfumes, or lotions on the treatment area.\"},{\"question\":\"How long does the PDT reaction usually last and what side effects may occur?\",\"answer\":\"Expect a sunburn-like reaction that typically lasts about a week; swelling, scabbing, crusting, and mild discomfort may occur. In more exuberant reactions, healing can be longer, up to four weeks.\"},{\"question\":\"What should patients do about sun exposure during the 96 hours after treatment?\",\"answer\":\"Use sun protective clothing and cover the treated area before leaving the office and throughout incubation, because any sun exposure—including indirect exposure—can dramatically increase risks of side effects.\"}]","Pre-Treatment Instructions for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) | PDF",1790552144]