How a simple change to photodynamic therapy cuts patient pain

US study shows benefits of more immediate light treatment for actinic keratoses
Clare Pain
man's scalp with actinic keratoses

Administering blue light photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses immediately, rather than waiting the usual hour, is as effective and can “dramatically” reduce patient pain, a small study suggests.

Under current photodynamic therapy regimens, blue light is used an hour after applying a photosensitive drug to patients’ skin.

But patients frequently report a stinging sensation during illumination that can be so bad they fail to return for a second treatment, say the authors from the US academic medical centre, the Cleveland Clinic.

Their study randomised 23 patients who had at least four actinic keratoses on both the left and right sides of their face and scalp to usual treatment on one side of their body, and immediate illumination after application of the topical drug (5-aminolevulinic acid) on the other.