How is aminolevulinic acid given?
A healthcare provider will apply this medicine directly to your skin lesions to prepare you for light treatment.
Your face and scalp may need to be treated in separate sessions if you have actinic keratosis on both areas.
If you are treated with Ameluz gel:
- The treated skin will be covered with a dressing to block out light.
- After 3 hours, the dressing will be removed and light treatment will be applied to the lesions.
If you are treated with Levulan Kerastick solution:
- You must return to your doctor's office within 14 to 18 hours afterward to receive light treatment.
- Once the solution has been applied, keep the treated skin dry.
- Do not wash the skin while waiting for your light treatment.
The photodynamic light has a low intensity and will not heat your skin. However, you may feel tingling, stinging, prickling, or burning where aminolevulinic acid was applied. This discomfort is usually temporary.
For up to 48 hours, you will need to protect your skin from bright light. Sunscreen will not be effective enough to protect you while this medicine is on your skin or scalp. Avoid exposure to both sunlight and bright indoor light. Wear protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat when you are outdoors. If you feel stinging or burning of the treated skin, reduce your exposure to light.
You may have some redness, swelling, and scaling of your lesions and the surrounding skin. These symptoms should go away completely within 4 weeks.
Call your doctor if you have severe skin discomfort, or if you have new or worsening skin problems.
If your actinic keratosis lesions do not clear up completely, you may need a second treatment. Levulan Kerastick and light treatment can be repeated after 8 weeks. Ameluz and light treatment can be repeated after 3 months.