Is the benefit of sequential 5-fluorouracil and daylight photodynamic therapy versus daylight photodynamic therapy alone sustained over time? - 12-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Since recurrences and new AKs commonly are observed after treatment long-term effects of field-directed therapies for AKs are crucial. Thus, we evaluated the 6- and 12-month efficacy and satisfaction of sequential topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and daylight PDT (dPDT) with dPDT alone.

Methods: In a randomized intra-individual study patients with multiple AKs in the face and scalp were treated with 4 % 5-fluorouracil cream twice daily for 7 days on one side of the scalp/face, followed by dPDT on both sides.

A European Consensus on the Consistent Use of the Term "Keratinocyte Cancer".

Keratinocyte-derived skin cancers comprise basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, its precursor actinic keratosis, and Bowen's disease. Historically, this group of neoplasms has been subsumed under the term non-melanoma skin cancer. However, the term non-melanoma skin cancer can be misleading and lacks precision.

Pre-treatment with topical 5-fluorouracil increases the efficacy of daylight photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses - A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Daylight photodynamic therapy (dPDT) and topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are each effective treatments for thin grade I actinic keratosis (AKs), but less so for thicker grade II-III AKs. Prolonged topical treatment regimens can be associated with severe skin reactions and low compliance. This study compares the efficacy of sequential 4 % 5-FU and dPDT with dPDT monotherapy for multiple actinic keratoses.

Treatment of Familial Benign Chronic Pemphigus With Superficial Radiotherapy.

Importance: Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) is a chronic genodermatosis with recurrent vesicles and erosions mainly in the intertriginous areas. Hailey-Hailey disease severely affects patient quality of life. Standard treatments attempt to control the flares, but often do not result in long-term remission of the disease.

Short-term chemical pretreatment cannot replace curettage in photodynamic therapy.

Background: Guidelines for photodynamic therapy (PDT) recommend pretreatment with curettage/debulking to enhance intracellular formation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). However, studies suggest that new chemical pretreatment procedures may replace curettage/debulking.

Purpose: To investigate how pretreatment with curettage and two combination ointments containing calcipotriol/betamethasone and salicylic acid/betamethasone affect PpIX fluorescence after the application of methyl aminolevulinate MAL and 5-aminolevulinic acid (BF-200 ALA).

Update on photodynamic treatment for actinic keratosis.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an attractive treatment option for actinic keratoses (AKs), as large skin areas can be treated with high response rates and superior cosmetic outcome. The efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-PDT and methyl aminolevulinate (MAL)-PDT for AK has been proven in multiple studies, and this treatment is recommended in numerous consensus works and therapy guidelines. Moreover, a self-adhesive ALA patch has been approved for the PDT of AK.

Continuous ultra-low-intensity artificial daylight is not as effective as red LED light in photodynamic therapy of multiple actinic keratoses.

Background/purpose: Daylight-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a simple and tolerable treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer. It is of interest which light intensity is sufficient to prevent accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and effectively treat actinic keratoses (AKs). We compared the efficacy of PDT with light-emitting diode (LED) to daylight-mediated PDT with very low-intensity artificial daylight ('daylight') in the treatment of multiple AKs in the face or scalp.

Cold water and pauses in illumination reduces pain during photodynamic therapy: a randomized clinical study.

Pain is the main acute adverse event during photodynamic therapy of skin lesions. The objective of this randomized study was to evaluate the pain-relieving effect of pauses and cooling during illumination. Twenty-four patients with actinic keratoses were treated with photodynamic therapy in two symmetrical areas and cooled with either cold-water-spray or cold-water-pack (CoolPack).

Long-pulsed dye laser versus long-pulsed dye laser-assisted photodynamic therapy for acne vulgaris: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Long-pulsed dye laser (LPDL)-assisted photodynamic therapy has been suggested to be superior to laser alone for acne vulgaris but no evidence is available.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of LPDL alone versus LPDL in photodynamic therapy with methylaminolevulinic acid (MAL-LPDL) for acne vulgaris.

Methods: Fifteen patients received a series of 3 full-face LPDL treatments and half-face prelaser MAL treatments; the latter being randomly assigned to the left or right side.

Transepidermal water loss after photodynamic therapy, UVB radiation and topical corticosteroid is independent of inflammation.

Background/purpose: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and ultraviolet radiation cause an inflammatory reaction of the skin. This may lead to disruption of the skin barrier function. We examined the acute effect of PDT and short-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVB) on the barrier function of the epidermis.

Morphine gel 0.3% does not relieve pain during topical photodynamic therapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

There is a demand for pain relief during photodynamic therapy. We therefore investigated the efficacy and side-effects of topical morphine gel 0.3% for pain relief during topical photodynamic therapy in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Photodynamic therapy of acne vulgaris using 5-aminolevulinic acid versus methyl aminolevulinate.

Background: Recent studies have shown that photodynamic therapy (PDT) is effective in the treatment of acne vulgaris. No studies have compared the treatment effect of aminolevulinic acid-PDT (ALA-PDT) and methyl aminolevulinate-PDT (MAL-PDT).

Objective: We sought to compare the treatment effect and tolerability of ALA-PDT versus MAL-PDT in the treatment of acne vulgaris in a controlled randomized investigator-blinded trial.

Pain associated with photodynamic therapy using 5-aminolevulinic acid or 5-aminolevulinic acid methylester on tape-stripped normal skin.

Background: Pain during and after topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the few severe adverse effects of the new treatment of skin diseases.

Objective: To compare the pain experienced in normal skin treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) PDT and 5-aminolevulinic methylester (ALA-ME) PDT.

Design: Double-blind randomized trial.