Skip to main content

Concierge specialist care · UK

Photodynamic therapy - light-activated treatment, precisely targeted.

A photosensitising drug - a cream on the skin, or an infusion - is switched on by a specific wavelength of light, destroying abnormal cells while sparing what is healthy. Used across dermatology, gastroenterology, respiratory medicine and eye care, delivered by consultants who do it every week.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Why patients choose us

  • 01

    The right specialist for your indication

    PDT spans dermatology, gastroenterology, respiratory medicine and ophthalmology. We match you to a consultant who delivers it week in, week out - not a generalist with a lamp.

  • 02

    Honest triage before any light is switched on

    PDT is superb for the right lesion and wrong for the wrong one. If your case needs excision, endoscopic resection or anti-VEGF injections instead, we say so first.

  • 03

    Independent, and free

    No clinic pays us, so the recommendation - and whether PDT is genuinely your best option - is impartial and costs you nothing.

Indicative pricing

What private photodynamic therapy costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner clinics and hospitals. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options, with cover checked.

In short

Topical PDT in our network: £450–£900 per session, home the same day.

Procedure Indicative range
Specialist consultation only (dermatology or other) £200–£350
Topical PDT - single field, per session £450–£900
Topical PDT - large or multiple fields £800–£1,500
Two-session topical PDT course £850–£1,700
Endoscopic PDT (oesophagus or airway) £4,000–£8,000
Verteporfin ocular PDT, per session £1,500–£3,000

Prices vary by clinic, by the consultant, by the number and size of fields treated, and - for endoscopic and ocular PDT - by the cost of the photosensitising drug itself, which is significant. Systemic and endoscopic protocols sit at the top of the range. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.

The problem

One name, four specialties - and it matters which door you walk through.

PDT for the skin, the oesophagus, the airway and the eye are four different services with different drugs, lasers and consultants. We route you to the right one first time.

  • Confirm the diagnosis before treating it

    A biopsy, an endoscopy or retinal imaging first. Light treatment on an unconfirmed lesion is how invasive disease gets missed.

  • Match the protocol to the problem

    Daylight or lamp, one field or several, one session or two, cream or infusion - the details drive both comfort and cure rate.

  • Know when PDT is the wrong tool

    Thick, invasive or high-risk lesions need surgery; wet macular degeneration mostly needs injections. An honest no is part of the service.

The journey

From enquiry to review - what happens, in order.

One team from first message through drug, light, aftercare and the response check.

  1. 01

    Before

    You tell us what has been found

    A short, confidential form. The diagnosis or lesion in question, any biopsy or imaging results, photographs if it is on the skin, and treatments tried so far.

  2. 02

    Before

    We match you to the right PDT service

    Within one working day: whether topical, endoscopic or ocular PDT fits, the right consultant, and an indicative price. If PDT is not suitable, we recommend the better route.

  3. 03

    Before

    Specialist assessment and work-up

    Dermatoscopy or biopsy for skin lesions, endoscopy and staging for oesophageal or lung disease, OCT and ICG angiography for eye conditions - confirming PDT is appropriate.

  4. 04

    Before

    Photosensitiser is applied or infused

    A 5-ALA or MAL cream for skin (under an occlusive dressing), an intravenous infusion of porfimer sodium for endoscopic PDT, or verteporfin for ocular treatment.

  5. 05

    On the day

    Incubation, then light activation

    Skin: around three hours of incubation, then 8–10 minutes of red light. Endoscopic: laser light delivered via fibre 40–50 hours after infusion. Ocular: a 689 nm laser applied 15 minutes after infusion.

  6. 06

    On the day

    Immediate aftercare and light precautions

    A dressing and written light-avoidance advice. Topical: protect the area for 48 hours. Systemic porfimer: strict avoidance of bright light for up to six weeks. Verteporfin: 48 hours of sensible caution.

  7. 07

    After

    Healing, review and any repeat session

    Skin crusts and heals over one to two weeks. Review at 4–12 weeks to check response; some indications routinely need a second session, which we book before you leave.

Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to first session. Treated skin heals in 1–2 weeks; response is checked at 4–12 weeks.

When it helps

When photodynamic therapy is the right step.

The indications we arrange most, plus the one red flag that means urgent excision rather than light treatment.

  • Actinic (solar) keratoses

    Rough, scaly patches on sun-exposed skin - PDT treats a whole field of damage in one sitting rather than lesion by lesion.

  • Bowen’s disease

    Squamous cell carcinoma in situ - a slow, superficial skin cancer that responds well to a two-session PDT course.

  • Superficial basal cell carcinoma

    Thin BCCs on the trunk or limbs where the cosmetic result matters and surgery would leave a larger mark.

  • Barrett’s oesophagus with dysplasia

    Endoscopic PDT can ablate dysplastic Barrett’s tissue - now usually alongside or after radiofrequency ablation, decided at MDT.

  • Obstructing oesophageal or lung tumours

    Palliative endoscopic PDT can debulk tumours narrowing the oesophagus or a central airway, easing swallowing or breathing.

  • Chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

    Half-dose verteporfin PDT is a recognised treatment when fluid under the retina persists beyond a few months.

  • Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

    Verteporfin PDT, often combined with anti-VEGF injections, targets the abnormal polypoidal vessels under the macula.

  • Red flag: a lesion that is thickened, tender or bleeding

    An AK or patch that becomes raised, tender, ulcerated or bleeds may already be invasive SCC - that needs urgent excision and histology, not field treatment.

Treatment options

Same principle, very different delivery.

What each form of PDT involves - the photosensitiser (cream or infusion), the light source (lamp, daylight, endoscopic laser or retinal laser) and the setting.

  • Conventional topical PDT

    MAL or 5-ALA cream under occlusion for about three hours, then a calibrated red LED lamp for 8–10 minutes. The standard for Bowen’s disease and superficial BCC.

  • Daylight PDT

    Cream followed by two hours outdoors in ordinary daylight. Far less painful, and well suited to widespread actinic keratoses on the face and scalp.

  • Endoscopic oesophageal PDT

    Intravenous porfimer sodium, then laser light delivered through an endoscope two days later to ablate dysplastic or malignant oesophageal tissue.

  • Bronchoscopic (airway) PDT

    The same drug–light principle applied via bronchoscope for early central lung cancers or to relieve airway obstruction in advanced disease.

  • Verteporfin ocular PDT

    A 10-minute verteporfin infusion, then a low-power 689 nm laser to the retina. Used for chronic CSCR and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

  • Fractionated or repeated protocols

    Many indications use two sessions one to four weeks apart, or repeat cycles at review - response-guided rather than one-and-done.

  • PDT combined with other treatment

    PDT often sits alongside cryotherapy or topical agents on the skin, RFA in the oesophagus, and anti-VEGF injections in the eye.

  • Intralesional and emerging uses

    Research protocols extend PDT to acne, viral warts and some bladder and brain applications - worth knowing about, but not routine UK practice.

Our vetted UK network

A small panel of PDT specialists, we picked them.

Consultant dermatologists, gastroenterologists, respiratory physicians and retinal specialists across London and the major UK cities. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.

Selection criteria

How we choose every PDT service in our network.

A UK clinic treatment room equipped with a red-light lamp for photodynamic therapy
Consultant-led PDT

  • Consultants who perform PDT as a regular part of their practice, in the specialty your condition belongs to

  • Calibrated, maintained light sources - LED lamps, endoscopic lasers or retinal laser systems - not improvised kit

  • Histology, endoscopy or retinal imaging on site so the diagnosis is confirmed before treatment

  • Clear escalation pathways to surgery, oncology or a retinal specialist if PDT is not the answer

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

PDT is well established and generally kind to healthy tissue. The things worth planning are pain relief during illumination, light precautions afterwards, and knowing when PDT is not the right tool at all.

  • Stinging and burning during illumination

    Conventional red-light PDT on the skin can sting or burn while the lamp is on. Cooling fans, sprays, breaks and local anaesthetic injections all help; daylight PDT largely avoids it.

  • Redness, swelling and crusting afterwards

    The treated skin reddens, weeps and crusts over the following days - a sign the treatment is working. It typically settles within one to two weeks.

  • Photosensitivity - days to weeks

    Topical photosensitisers wash out within about 48 hours; keep the area covered from bright light. Intravenous porfimer keeps the whole body light-sensitive for up to six weeks, and that discipline matters.

  • Infection and scarring are uncommon

    The treated area can rarely become infected, and scarring or lasting pigment change is unusual - one reason PDT is chosen when cosmesis matters.

  • Endoscopic PDT has its own risks

    Chest pain, temporary difficulty swallowing, and - rarely - oesophageal stricture or perforation. These are discussed in full at the endoscopy consent.

  • Ocular PDT risks are low but real

    Temporary visual disturbance, back pain during the infusion, and a small risk of reduced vision or a patch of retinal damage. Your retinal specialist weighs this against the risk of doing nothing.

  • Not every lesion should have PDT

    Invasive SCC, nodular or high-risk BCC and pigmented lesions need excision or Mohs surgery. Porphyria and photosensitising conditions rule PDT out altogether.

  • Cosmesis is a genuine strength

    Compared with surgery on the same superficial lesions, PDT usually heals with little or no visible mark - a major reason it is chosen for the face, scalp and shins.

  • Red flags after treatment

    Spreading redness, pus, fever, severe pain, sudden visual loss after ocular PDT, or vomiting and chest pain after endoscopic PDT need the same-day team or A&E.

Reading your treatment record

Your treatment record in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whether your PDT was topical, endoscopic or ocular, the record your consultant sends keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant explaining a photodynamic therapy treatment record to a patient

A quiet reminder

Light doses and drug names read like physics homework - we translate them for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the treatment record and what the response check will look for, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication, site and protocol

    What was treated and why, which photosensitiser was used, the field or lesion treated, and whether this was conventional, daylight, endoscopic or ocular PDT.

  2. 02 Technique

    Drug, incubation and light dose

    The agent and dose, incubation or drug-to-light interval, wavelength, fluence and illumination time - the parameters that let any future clinician reproduce or adjust the treatment.

  3. 03 Findings

    How the tissue responded

    The immediate reaction seen, any biopsy or imaging correlation, and - at review - whether the lesion or field has cleared, partially responded or needs another cycle.

  4. 04 Impression

    Plan, precautions and follow-up

    Read this first: the light-avoidance instructions, whether a second session is booked, and when the response check or surveillance appointment falls.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Photodynamic therapy is usually covered when there is a confirmed medical indication - skin cancer and pre-cancer, dysplastic Barrett’s, or an approved retinal condition. Cosmetic-only use is not. We confirm cover before booking.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about photodynamic therapy.

Quick answers on how it works, what it treats, pain, light precautions, cost and the NHS position.

  • What exactly is photodynamic therapy?

    PDT combines a photosensitising drug with a specific wavelength of light. The drug is taken up preferentially by abnormal cells; when the light activates it, it generates a reactive form of oxygen that destroys those cells while largely sparing healthy tissue. The same principle is applied as a cream on the skin, as an infusion before endoscopic laser treatment, and as verteporfin before a retinal laser.

  • Which conditions can PDT treat?

    On the skin: actinic keratoses, Bowen’s disease and superficial basal cell carcinoma. In the gut and airways: dysplastic Barrett’s oesophagus and some oesophageal and central lung tumours, usually to relieve obstruction. In the eye: chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, using verteporfin. Each indication has its own specialist, drug and light source.

  • Does photodynamic therapy hurt?

    Topical PDT under a red lamp can sting or burn during the few minutes of illumination - clinics use cooling, pauses and local anaesthetic to manage it, and daylight PDT is far gentler. Endoscopic PDT is done under sedation, so the treatment itself is not felt, though chest discomfort can follow. Ocular PDT is essentially painless apart from occasional back pain during the infusion.

  • How long does recovery take?

    Treated skin reddens, weeps and crusts, then heals over one to two weeks with normal activity throughout. After endoscopic PDT most people go home the same day or after one night, with a soft diet for a few days. After ocular PDT you can go home immediately, avoiding bright light for 48 hours. The key restriction throughout is light exposure, not physical rest.

  • What are the main risks?

    For skin PDT: discomfort during illumination, temporary redness and crusting, and rare infection, scarring or pigment change. Intravenous porfimer makes the whole body light-sensitive for up to six weeks. Endoscopic PDT carries small risks of stricture or perforation, and ocular PDT a small risk of visual disturbance. Your consultant goes through the risks specific to your protocol before you consent.

  • How much does private PDT cost in the UK?

    A specialist consultation is £200–£350. Topical PDT runs £450–£900 per session for a single field and £800–£1,500 for large or multiple fields, with many protocols needing two sessions. Endoscopic PDT is £4,000–£8,000 including the drug, and verteporfin ocular PDT £1,500–£3,000 per session. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.

  • Can I get PDT on the NHS?

    Yes - NICE has approved PDT for several skin, oesophageal and eye indications, and NHS dermatology, endoscopy and retinal services all offer it. Availability is patchy, though: not every trust has the equipment or a trained team, so referral distances and waits vary considerably by region. Going privately mainly buys speed and choice of consultant.

  • Why choose PDT over surgery or other treatments?

    For superficial skin lesions, PDT treats a whole field of sun damage at once and heals with an excellent cosmetic result - valuable on the face, scalp and lower legs. In the oesophagus and eye it reaches tissue that surgery cannot easily address. The trade-off is that PDT only penetrates a few millimetres, so anything thicker, invasive or high-risk still needs excision, resection or a different therapy.

Related treatments

Looking for something else?

Pulse Healthcare concierge

Send us your enquiry

A concierge service for UK private healthcare. We match you with the best vetted clinics and consultants in our network - they then contact you directly.

So we can match you to the right clinician close to you.

We reply to every enquiry within 24 hours (Mon–Fri). Confidential - your details are never shared outside our vetted consultant network.