Topical aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy in acne / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with topical aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in moderate to severe acne. Methods Seventy patients with moderate to severe acne were randomly divided into two groups, one group was treated with topical ALA-PDT for 1-3 sessions with an interval of 2 weeks, the other group received oral isotretinoin 10 mg twice a day for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated for efficacy on week 2, 4 and 6 after the initial treatment. A 3-month follow up was performed to monitor adverse events following the end treatment. Results The total effective rate was 97.1% in ALA-PDT group after 1-3 sessions of treatment, 80.0% in the control group on week 6, and the difference was significant between the two groups (P<0.05). Acne lesions tended to recur more slightly with a longer remission period in ALA-PDT group than in the control group. A temporary and local pigmentation was observed in some patients treated with ALA-PDT, but no scar was noticed. Conclusion Topical ALA-PDT is a simple and effective treatment option for moderate to severe acne with mild side effects.