• Reference Number: HEY-1351/2023
• Departments: Dermatology
• Last Updated: 1 March 2023

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give you general information. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and the healthcare team, but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team.

 This leaflet aims to provide you with information on what you might experience, and how to care for your skin / treatment site following treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Immediately after treatment

• You will have a dressing / plaster over the treatment area. This should be kept in place and completely dry for 48 hours after treatment.
• You may experience some temporary swelling and redness around the treated area. This usually settles down over a few days.
• The area may be uncomfortable or painful. Paracetamol may be taken if needed.
• If the wound was to bleed, apply firm pressure to the area for around 15 minutes.

After 48 hours

• Always wash your hands before touching the treatment site to prevent infection.
• The dressing / plaster can be removed. Gently wash the area, pat dry with a clean towel and moisturise the area twice a day for 7-10 days.
• If the wound is leaking, you may re-apply a dressing / plaster to protect clothing.
• The treated area will develop a crust / scab. This is normal. Healing takes place under the crust so do not disturb it. The crust will fall off naturally once the area underneath has healed.
• You should adopt an appropriate sun protection regime post treatment and long term. This should include avoiding the sun, wearing protective clothing and using sunscreen (SPF 50+) to all parts of your skin that are exposed.

Your doctor may wish to see you again in around 3 months to review the outcome and advise whether any further treatment is necessary.

If you have any concerns after treatment please do not hesitate to contact us on 01482 622262

This leaflet was produced by the Dermatology Department, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and will be reviewed in March 2026.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.