Background: 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is not only the first-line treatment for actinic keratosis (AK), but also demonstrated to improve photoaging during AK field treatment. However, its long-term effect on photoaging remains elusive.
Objective: To evaluate the long-term improvement effect of ALA-PDT on photoaging.
Methods: The data of 10 patients with AK who received field-directed ALA-PDT on one side of the face and lesion-directed ALA-PDT on the other side were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinical photographs were evaluated with Global scores of photoaging (GSP) assessment independently by two dermatologists at baseline and 1 month, 6 months and 24 months after ALA-PDT.
Results: GSP evaluation was performed after 24 months of follow-up. Improvements in the fine line and mottled pigmentation were observed (p < 0.05). All the 10 patients achieved complete response of AK lesions and had no relapse during the 24-month follow-up period.
Limitation: A small sample size.
Conclusion: Photoaging can be effectively alleviated in the long-term follow-up after ALA-PDT treatment for AK. The present study may inspire new treatment strategies for photoaging.
Keywords: 5-Aminolevulinic acid; Actinic keratosis; Photoaging; Photodynamic therapy.
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