A Review of Photodynamic Light Therapy for Inflammatory Skin Diseases

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a light treatment involving application of a photosensitizing drug or prodrug, which preferentially deposits in the target cells followed by drug activation via illumination with visible light. The primary advantages of PDT over many conventional treatments include excellent cosmetic results and low invasiveness. Photodynamic therapy was initially developed as an anticancer therapy; however, the range of off-label indications has been continuously expanding. This has cultivated interest in the utilization of PDT to widen the treatment options available for inflammatory skin conditions. This article provides up-to-date information about PDT focusing on recently published studies involving the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions as well as skin infections.