What is aminolevulinic acid?

It is used in the treatment of a condition called actinic keratosis, aminolevulinic acid is a drug that patients apply to the skin. Once the drug is applied to the affected area of ​​the skin, the drug may turn into another molecule that can kill patients cells. This process requires light to be effective, so the patient must also undergo light treatment to be cured.

Actinic keratosis is a type of skin defect where bumpy areas are present on the skin, which can also develop bark. These bumps may turn into cancer lesions over time, so the patient may want to have them removed before this happens. This process may require a doctor who can apply aminolevulinic acid as the first step in removing defects.

Every blow of actininic keratosis affects only a small collection of cells due to the rest of the skin, so the drug should only be applied to the affected area. In principle, the treatment of aminolevulinic acid kills so from patients cells so the area of ​​the skinwill again become healthy and less endangered by skin cancer. Usually the physician applies the preparation of aminolevulinic acid, which remains on the skin for at least 12 hours.

After 12 hours, aminolevulinic acid turned into another substance called Protoporphyrin IX. This chemical breaks up when exposed to light, which is another step in the treatment process. The patient is subject to the treatment of light on the affected skin, allowing protoporphyrine to release oxygen atoms into the skin. The disintegration of protoporphyrin IX correctly requires a specific light wavelength that a light machine can supply.

These free oxygen atoms are fatal to cells and kill them. This fatal effect occurs only where the product has been applied and where light was shining on the skin. The patient can see the benefits after several weeks, the Need may undergo additional treatment with the same materials to completely solve the condition.

Some patients who receive this treatment experience temporary side effects on treated skin, such as pain, redness or scaly skin. HN can also evolve and blisters and blisters and hives may occur, but all these effects are normally solved over time. During the treatment time, the presence of aminolevulinic acid can increase the sensitivity to the skin to sunlight. Patients may suffer from burning sleep in an area that cannot be prevented from wearing sunscreen, but requires avoidance with the sun or using clothing to cover the area.