Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective modality for the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs). The use of methyl aminolevulinate with daylight PDT (D-PDT) has quickly gained popularity internationally because of its tolerability and high levels of safety and efficacy. However, there is a paucity of studies on the use of D-PDT with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA).
To study the safety and efficacy of D-PDT in treating AKs on the face and scalp using ALA.
Thirty patients were recruited for this prospective, uncontrolled study. Patients were treated with topical ALA on either the scalp or face, incubated for 30 minutes, and then sat at home in a shady area for 2 hours. Weather conditions, lux measurements, and AK counts at 3 and 6 months were measured.
Daylight PDT led to a median of 75% reduction in AK count at 6 months, with no significant adverse effects. Ninety-six percentage of patients were either moderately or very satisfied with the treatment, and the median peak pain score during treatment was 1. There was no correlation between weather or average lux received during treatment and 6-month outcomes.
Daylight PDT with ALA is a safe and effective treatment modality for AKs on the head.
*Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, California;
†Dermatology and Laser Center of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina;
‡Division of Dermatology, University of California, Los Angeles, California;
§Division of Dermatology, Kaiser Permanente, Riverside, California;
║Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Christopher Zachary, FRCP, Department of Dermatology, 118 Medical Surge I, Irvine, CA 92697-2400, or e-mail: czachary@uci.edu
Supported by a Cutting Edge Research Grant from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
