"In my early thirties I started getting acne and it kinda came out of nowhere," said Linda Loeffler.
“The reasons are hormonal. There are some women as they get closer to menopause they get an increase in their androgen and testosterone production which stimulates the oil glands of the skin which leads to more acne," said dermatologist Dr. Paul Rappaport.
Linda Loeffler has been suffering with acne for ten years.
"I have tried every type of topical medication, oral medicine, just about everything I could be put on," Loeffler said.
She decided to try something new. It's called photo-dynamic therapy involving a photosentizing medicine called levulan.
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"Levulan is a medicine that has a special structure that is activated by ultraviolet light and sun light. So when it is activated, it produces inflammation of the skin," Rappaport said.
The therapy begins by a cleansing of the skin, then a prescrub called acetone is applied. Next is the levulan.
She has to wait an hour for the medicine to absorb into her skin and then next, the painless, ultraviolet light. Goggles are needed.
After her therapy, she has to stay away from all sunlight for 24 hours. She is at risk for severe sunburn.
Even though the medicine is wiped off, it penetrates in the deeper layers of the skin and any type of ultraviolet ray will activate the oil glands. The therapy ends with moisturizer.
This is her third and final treatment, which is not covered by insurance and cost about $400 each. Her face will be red and peel for a day or so. Women who are pregnant or have darker skin tones are not candidates.
"Definitely the acne is completely gone and also my skin feels much smoother and also, my age spots and acne scars have dissipated," Loeffler said.