ABSTRACT
The efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid/methyl aminolevulinate Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer, particularly actinic keratoses, Bowen’s disease, and superficial basal cell carcinomas, has been sufficiently documented and justifies that PDT is to be considered among the standard therapeutic procedures for these diseases. PDT has gained worldwide popularity as an experimental therapy for a variety of human cancers. During illumination, the photosensitizer absorbs light, a process followed by conversion to an energetically higher status, the “singlet-status.” Topically applied dyes such as eosin red or erythrosine were the first “photosensitizers” used to treat conditions such as pityriasis versicolor, psoriasis, molluscum contagiosum, syphilis, lupus vulgaris, or skin cancer. Historically, PDT has been performed using laser sources, although these are expensive and require a considerable amount of technical support. The chapter investigates acne vulgaris using visible light phototherapy. Propionibacterium acnes contain endogenous porphyrins and fluoresce.
