No. Most patients do report a mild stinging or heat sensation on their skin during treatment.

Patients with severe sun damaged skin manifested by Actinic Keratosis, texture and tone changes, mottled pigmentation and skin laxity may see excellent results. Patients may also see improvement of large pores and pitted acne scars… Active acne and acne rosacea can improve dramatically.

To achieve maximum improvement of precancerous lesions (AKs), sun damage, tone and texture changes, 1-2 treatments 4-6 months apart is the most effective regime. More treatments may be done at future intervals to maintain the rejuvenated appearance of the skin.

1. Easier for patients than repeated topical liquid nitrogen, Efudex (5 fu), or Aldara because side effects are minimal, rapid healing, and only 1-2 treatments required.
2. The Metvix treatment done with Daylight activation is very tolarable compared to liquid nitrogen, 5-FU and Aldara.
3. Reduced scarring and improved cosmetic outcome compared with cautery, surgery and Efudex. Liquid nitrogen can leave white spots on your skin.

• well tolerated (essentially painless)
• easily performed by a specialty clinic environment
• non invasive (no needles or surgery required)
• Excellent cosmetic outcome.

Following Metvix PDT....Photodynamic therapy, the treated areas can appear red with some peeling for 2-7 days. Some patients have an exuhuberant response to PDT, and experience marked redness of their skin. Temporary swelling of the lips and around the eyes can occur for a few days. Darker pigmented patches called liver spots can become temporarily darker and then peel off leaving normal skin. (This usually occurs over 7-10 days). Repeat treatments may be necessary as lesions may vary in size.

1. Mild stinging and burning will occur during treatment
2. Following treatment the area and surrounding skin will redden.
3. Swelling and hypo/hyper pigmentation may occur
4. You may also see scaling, itching, crusting and changes in skin colour
5. These changes should reach a maximum the day after treatment, should improve markedly by the end of the first week and should be completely resolved by 4 weeks after treatment.
6. It is important to note that although there will be some stinging; most patients tolerate the procedure well.