As a leading cosmetic dermatology office treating a vast clientele south of Boston, South Shore Skin Center offers cutting edge anti-aging and medical treatments in dermatology.

One treatment in particular, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), has recently been in the spotlight.  It has been found that PDT is not only a highly effective treatment for mild acne, but it may also be used to treat pre-cancerous growths known as Actinic Keratoses.

Acne affects many people at some point in their lives. During teenage years, 100% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 have at least one acne breakout.  Males and females have equal numbers of acne episodes.  Acne is not exclusively a phenomenon of the teen years. Adults can have acne into their thirties and beyond. PDT is an ideal treatment option for mild or moderate acne in those people who choose to avoid antibiotics.

Actinic Keratoses are precancerous growths caused by extensive sun exposure. They have the potential to turn into non-melanoma skin cancer.  Symptoms of Actinic Keratoses vary. Some of the more common symptoms include: rough patches of skin; red, scaly or crusty skin and sores.  The most commonly affected areas are face, lips, scalp, neck, forearms and the back of the hands.

While the exact cause is not known, long-term exposure to sunlight or artificial UV radiation sources are widely considered to be the most common cause of Actinic Keratoses.  They can occur at any age, however, they are more common during your 40's and 50's and fair skinned people are more likely to be affected.

Actinic Keratoses may be treated with PDT, which is a combination of a light source with a photosensitizing chemical. Treatments may be localized or involve the entire body. PDT treatments are usually painless.

Treatment begins by preparing the area to be treated with an acetone scrub to remove dead skin cells. This is followed by the application of aminolevulinic acid which is the photosensitizer. Finally, the patient is treated with a modified halogen light known as a Blu-Light.  Most patients require a series of two to four treatments every three weeks.  PDT has also proven to be successful in the treatment of excessive oiliness of the skin.  “Results of PDT treatments will vary by person and by the condition being treated, but are generally quite satisfactory to our patients,” explained Dr. Saad.

South Shore Skin Center is one of Massachusetts’ most progressive dermatology practices offering a wide range of medical, surgical and cosmetic services.  The dermatologists are experts in PDT treatments.
 
In addition to PDT, Fraxel re:pair and Fraxel re:store laser treatments are two of the latest and safest skin resurfacing methods now available at the practice.  They also offer laser hair removal; laser tattoo removal and Gentle YAG laser treatments to erase spider veins.

A full range of affordable cosmetic and anti-aging services including Botox, wrinkle fillers, Microdermabrasion, QuickLift and chemical peels are also available to patients.