Photodynamic therapy of inflammatory and infectious skin diseases

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is widely applied in the field of dermatololgy, and has shown satisfactory therapeutic effect in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, Paget's disease, Bowen's disease, actinic keratosis, acne, port-wine stain and condyloma acuminatum. At present, PDT has been attempted to treat psoriasis, oral lichen planus and some localized infectious skin diseases, and has displayed favoring efficacy in the treatment of these diseases, particularly in that of several inflammatory or infectious diseases (such as facial verruca planae and cutaneous leishmaniasis) with low recurrence and good cosmetic effects. PDT is worthy of further studies. Key words: Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Photochemotherapy; Therapeutic uses; Warts; Leishmaniasis; Dermatomycoses