5‐aminolaevulinic acid patch‐photodynamic therapy in the treatment of actinic cheilitis

Summary Background Actinic cheilitis ( AC ) is a common disease caused by chronic ultraviolet exposure. Objective Alacare is a self‐adhesive, skin coloured 5‐aminolaevulinic acid ( ALA ) patch that has been developed for the treatment of mild to moderate actinic keratosis ( AK ). Considering the good results in the treatment of AK , the standardized delivery of ALA and the simple application Alacare patch‐ photodynamic therapy ( PDT ) appears as an interesting treatment option for AC . Methods We retrospectively assessed the efficacy, tolerability and cosmetic outcome of Alacare patch‐ PDT in eleven patients with AC . After occlusion with the Alacare patches for 4 hours, the AC lesions were illuminated with narrowband red light and a dose of 37 J/cm 2 . All patients were clinically assessed for efficacy, side effects and cosmetic outcome at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. Results Complete clinical response at the 3‐month follow‐up was achieved in eight of 11 patients (72,7%) and 12 of 15 AC lesions (80,0%), respectively. Up to the final 12‐month follow‐up, a recurrence was observed in two lesions. The complete clinical cure rate at 1 year after Alacare patch‐ PDT , thus, was 66,6% (10/15 lesions). The cosmetic outcome of the treatment was excellent in all cases. Conclusion Alacare patch‐ PDT was found to have substantial efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate AC . Given its ease of use, absence of long‐term side effects and the excellent cosmetic results Alacare patch‐ PDT might be considered as a promising new treatment option for the management of AC .