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Refractory angular cheilitis treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT): an observational pilot study
Cinzia Casu1, Valentino Natoli2, Angelo Michele Inchingolo3
1Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral Biotechnology Laboratory (OBL), University of Cagliari, 09121 Cagliari, Italy.
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
|September 25, 2025
Summary
Photodynamic therapy effectively treated refractory angular cheilitis in 90% of patients. This innovative treatment offers a promising alternative for persistent cases unresponsive to conventional therapies.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Photomedicine
Background:
- Angular cheilitis is a common inflammatory condition affecting the corners of the mouth.
- Recurrent or refractory cases often resist standard topical pharmacological treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treating recurrent or refractory angular cheilitis.
- To compare two distinct PDT protocols: phenothiazine chloride and curcumin-based photosensitizer.
Main Methods:
- An observational pilot study involving 10 patients with refractory angular cheilitis.
- Patients received either a 1% phenothiazine chloride PDT protocol or a curcumin-based photosensitizer PDT protocol.
- Follow-up assessments were conducted at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months.
Main Results:
- Successful clinical resolution was observed in 9 out of 10 patients (90%).
- One patient experienced incomplete healing, and another had a recurrence after one month.
- The study included 7 women and 3 men, with a mean age of 51.4 years.
Conclusions:
- Photodynamic therapy presents a viable therapeutic option for refractory or recurrent angular cheilitis.
- PDT demonstrated a high success rate with minimal reported side effects.
- Further research is warranted to optimize PDT protocols for angular cheilitis.
