I can tell you my experiences, but some pain may be associated with
your particular condition. For instance, cancerous cells may be more
sensitive, hyperplasia might be sensitive, I don't know. I had
moderate rosacea with lots of burning sensations before my treatments,
papules, scarring etc. It's quite a bit more harsh than ipl alone. My
treatment was levulan followed by blue light then ipl, all the same
session. Your face is photosensitive for up to 48 hours I think, and
you feel like you have a very bad sunburn for about a week. First day
or so you might also have pain associated with swelling. You probably
can't go from treatment back to work that day, you really should be
very protected from sun, and just recover, use ice packs if necessary
and anti inflammatories. I didn't go out for days, because I'm also
very sensitive to any sunscreens I would have had to slather on. Also
I had mild dermabrasion, which could aggravate sensitive skin.

I did not have a positive result from using levulan (3x), unless some
results show up months later... I have had reduction in burning
sensations, but don't know the exact cause, could have been levulan,
the ipl, or temporary reduction in hot flashes. Also you need to be
aware that levulan is NOT APPROVED for any use other than actinic
keratosis. Anything else is experimental, though many derms are using
it, I don't think definitive studies have been done or at least
completed. Also, acne and papules can get worse because of this
treatment (hopefully temporarily).
-Sue
--- In rosacea-support@yahoogroups.com, marya <maryaht@e...> wrote:
>
> I have a questiion about the Levulan treatment for those who have
had it:
>
> Was it very painful?
> If you used it for sebaceous hyperplasia, did it reduce or eliminate
them? And if so, after how many treatments?
>
> My dermatologist says she used it once on cancerous cells but that
it was so painful she will never use it again.
>
> Marya