Photodynamic therapy for photorejuvenation and non-oncologic indications: overview and update

Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown to be effective in the treatment and prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer. PDT is also established as treatment modality for several non-oncologic indications. The aesthetic effects of PDT for photoaged skin are well documented. An improvement of lentigines, skin roughness, sallow complexion and fine wrinkles was demonstrated. A reduction of histological signs of photoaging as a decrease of elastotic material and expression of p53 together with induction of neocollagenesis was shown. The possible contemporaneous treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer renders PDT a novel and effective technique for skin rejuvenation. Controlled studies also demonstrated the efficacy of PDT in the treatment of acne vulgaris and HPV-induced skin diseases as verrucae vulgares and condylomata acuminata. In addition, there is evidence that certain sclerosing, inflammatory, granulomatous and infectious skin diseases may profit from PDT. In contrast to PDT of tumours, where cellular destruction is the main goal of the therapy, in PDT of inflammatory skin conditions it is probably the modulation of cellular functions that plays the main role.