Treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa with intralesional photodynamic therapy with 5-aminolevulinic acid and 630nm laser beam.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease with multiple treatment options that have been used with mixed results.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of intralesional photodynamic therapy (I-PDT) in the management of HS. Also, to assess the effect of this technique on the different areas treated.

Penetration of 630nm laser and 5-aminolevulinic acid in tissue with intralesional photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy is a common treatment in dermatology for several diseases, its main limitation is the penetration of topical photosensitizer and light in the tissue. However intralesional photodynamic therapy is a new technique where the photosensitizer and sometimes a 630nm laser beam are applied inside the lesión, so it allows achieve deeper penetration. It has been used to treat basal cell carcinoma, hidradenitis suppurativa or keloids.