There are many ways to rejuvenate the surface of the skin today, but many treatments require anesthesia, recovery time and some risk. This is enough to turn off many patients who might benefit with one of the procedures but are not willing to commit the time and energy into completing the process. However, new options that were just recently on the horizon are now being conducted in doctor's offices across the globe.

Photodynamic therapy is a form of skin rejuvenation that shows promising results with minimal pain and recovery time. This process uses a medication that sensitizes the skin to light and then applies a light source to the area to alter the skin's surface. The process includes three distinct steps; medication, and incubation period to allow the medication to take effect and the light therapy. Different types of lights are used for photodynamic therapy and the light that is chosen will be based on the treatment that is being done and the preference of the doctor.

Photodynamic therapy is not only used for skin rejuvenation; it has also been proven effective in removing and pre-cancerous lesions that can help prevent skin cancer. The therapy appears to be relatively safe and pain free with little or no recovery time required. These treatments are also less costly than other forms of skin rejuvenation, although multiple sessions may be required to achieve the desired results. Patients who are interested in photodynamic therapy should talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits to determine if this treatment is right for them.