Photodynamic therapy in dermatology: Beyond current indications

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has long been used in dermatology as a therapeutic strategy for several malignant and premalignant conditions. Currently, it is approved in Europe for the treatment of actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma in situ, and some forms of basal cell carcinoma, with favorable clearance rates associated with satisfying aesthetic results. Nonetheless, in the past few years, PDT has also demonstrated efficacy in many other conditions, including inflammatory and infectious dermatoses. These results, probably explained by its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and bactericidal effects, may lead to an expansion of PDT indications in the upcoming years. In this article, conditions where PDT may be useful are reviewed, thus highlighting the potential of this therapeutic modality for the dermatologist.