One week after my first treatment the peeling has pretty much stopped, I could hide the red that's left with makeup today. The crusty little spots that I've had taken off several times before seem to be gone! It was uncomfortable, red and peeling for 2 days but I will happily do the next treatment. If this is all it takes to keep the basil cell at bay it's worth it.

I had a Levulan treatment two days ago. My dermatologist initially suggested it for the especially sun-exposed area around my nose. (The damage she detected was invisible to me.) I liked the doctor very much, but she told me very little about the treatment- just that medication would be applied and then I would sit under blue light for a time and might have some slight redness. When I arrived for my appointment two weeks later, the nurse handed me a list of side effects and had me sign a release. Some were alarming. By this time I had driven two hours for my appointment so went ahead with it. She did my entire face- not only across the bridge of my nose. She didn't ask about recent sun exposure. The treatment was so uncomfortable I didn't think I'd make it through the 16.5 minutes. It burned as if habanero pepper juice had been applied to my skin. I've been in pain ever since- bright red all over within minutes, and by morning my face had swelled like a pumpkin. It's now completely covered with brown, red and purple blotches. Discomfort alternates between extreme tightness, burning and intense itching. I called the doctor's office and after the fact was told any place I had sun damage would react this way. I was also told that my two hour drive home intensified the reaction. I was wearing sunscreen and a hat. I'm feeling incapacitated and bummed about the treatment. I slept most of the day yesterday. I wish I had a better picture up front about what I could have expected based on my own skin history. I'm using vaseline, bag balm, aloe, moisturizers (and discovering which ones burn), prednisone, ibuprofen, antihistamines and lots of ice. I haven't left my house since the treatment. I so regret opting to do this. I hope something positive comes of it.

I'm glad I didn't read these reviews before I had my first treatment 2 days ago. Most important, choose a doctor and his staff carefully so you are comfortable and trust them. I had a basis cell removed from my forehead and more spots that would come and go, they think these treatments will take care of all of them before they become serious. The topical solution was applied and I sat in the waiting room for 1 hour then under the lights for 16 minutes. There was a bit of tingling, but no serious pain. I'm on day 2 and look like I've been on the beach with my baby oil and iodine, talk about full circle. It's uncomfortable, and I don't want to go out yet but there is no pain and just a tiny bit of swelling. Will post more in a couple of days. So far, so good.

Very Painful.

I had my first treatment in May 2011. Day 1 I had redness, felt like a sunburn in certain areas of my face, used frozen peas and cool cloths along with a moisturizer that I purchased at the doctor's offie. I was told no light other than a 60 watt bulb. We put two towels over my face for the 45 minute drive home following the treatment. I had minimal swelling and on Day 2 there was none at all. The heat/sunburn feeling was minimal on day 2 also and we discontinued using the frozen peas (still in a bag) and the cool cloths. Day 3 I remained indoors with the blinds drawn and minimal lighting. On Day 4, in the evening after the sun had gone down, I was still very red, but we ventured out for ice cream (drive thru). Each day the redness faded a bit and on Day 10 I was able to fly home with no redness at all. Skin looked and felt great. I had the Blu-U treatment for squamous cell skin cancer and Actinic keratosis -- precancerous areas on my face. I will have a second treatment later this year. I think the key to a good outcome with little pain or swelling is to stay "in the dark" for the first 72 hours following the treatment. That was stressed by the nurse and the doctor prior to me having it. My skin looks great -- just a small patch of scaly skin left in one area. They also prescribed a skin care reginmen that I am following religously. I live in Florida and I golf so I am out in the sun, but I wear a hat, use a high SPF sunscreen and makeup that has sunscreen in it also.

Head, full face & both arms from elbows to wrists were treated. Light applied approx. 1 hr after Levulan head & face. 3 hrs after applied to arms. Fairly strong discomfort, but intolerable. From what I've read, the Levulan is washed off AFTER the light....in my case it was washed off before?????? Still too early to tell whether the treatment has been effective. Has anyone else had this same experience? lmsm427@aol.com