No abstract

Topical photodynamic therapy is an evolving relatively new modality in dermatology. While widely used in Europe for treatment of actinic keratoses and skin cancer, topical photodynamic therapy is still relatively unfamiliar in the United States. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1999, photodynamic therapy is now being evaluated for superficial epidermal tumors, acne, and cosmetic applications. This article reviews recent advances in this field, with emphasis on skin rejuvenation, acne, and hair removal.

Increasing DCD spurt duration in laser hair removal provides its strongest benefit in the area of pain reduction, particularly in type V patients. Increasing cryogen spurt durations above a protective threshold shows no significant benefit in terms of epidermal protection. Changing the spurt duration may not be as important in some patients with darker skin types.