title: Photodynamic Therapy and Skin Appendage Disorders: A Review.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive treatment that utilizes light treatment along with application of a photosensitizing agent. In dermatology, PDT is commonly used and approved for the treatment of oncological conditions such as actinic keratosis, Bowen disease and superficial basal cell carcinoma. In the last 2 decades however, PDT has also been used for the treatment of several nonneoplastic dermatological diseases. The present review summarizes published data on PDT application in skin appendage disorders. Our literature review shows that: (a) PDT may be a suitable treatment for acne, folliculitis decalvans, hidradenitis suppurativa, nail diseases, and sebaceous hyperplasia; (b) there is a lack of agreement on PDT features (type, concentrations and incubation period of used substances, number and frequency of PDT sessions, optimal parameters of light sources, and patient characteristics [e.g., failure to previous treatments, disease severity, body surface area involved, etc.] which should guide PDT use in these diseases);
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Megna
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabbrocini
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marasca
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monfrecola
keywords: Acne; Hidradenitis suppurativa; Onychomycosis; Photodynamic therapy; Sebaceous hyperplasia