Background: Medicinal therapies such as systemic retinoids and antibiotics have shown efficacy in the treatment of dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS), but refractory cases are common. 5-Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) has been successfully used in medicine-resistant cases in recent years.
Methods: A total of 12 patients who received ALA-PDT in addition to formally failed medicinal therapies were interviewed by telephone regarding improvement of symptoms, satisfaction, and side effects.
Results: Overall, 58.3 % patients achieved greater than 50 % improvement of at least one symptom, and 16.7 % had little improvement for any symptom. The proportion of patients who had greater than 50 % improvement for pain, pruritus, swelling and suppuration were 36.4 %, 66.7 %, 33.3 % and 58.3 % respectively. 41.7 % patients were either satisfied or very satisfied with the ALA-PDT. The side effects were mainly pain and crusting that were mostly mild and recovered quickly.
Conclusion: ALA-PDT was safe and partially effective in reducing DCS symptoms as an adjunct to systemic medicinal therapies.
Keywords: ALA-PDT; Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp; Symptom; Treatment.
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.