Photodynamic therapy (PDT) - treatment of skin cancer.

Photodynamic therapy uses a photosensitizing substance (tissue causing a susceptibility to certain light) is applied to the skin for several hours before exposure to a specific light (light blue or red). The substance is applied to the skin as a liquid or a cream containing aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA-HCl) or methyl aminolevulinate (MAL). These photosensitizing substances are specifically absorbed by the diseased tissue and sebaceous glands. Exposure to blue light or red light is made with a special active substance that has penetrated the tissue. The activation of the photosensitizing substance causes the specific destruction of tissues that have absorbed. The laboratory markets Galderma Metvix ® cream in France, its use is indicated for the treatment of actinic keratoses (precancerous keratoses), and superficial basal cell carcinomas outside the face and MALDI Bowen (intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma). Metvix ® cream is applied to the area was treated for three hours before the lighting of red LED lights (Aktilite ®). The treatment protocol for Metvix ® is detailed on a separate sheet. Metvix ® has recently become available in France. The essential interest of photodynamic therapy with Metvix ® (MAL-PDT) is the treatment of skin cancer, it eliminates virtually no scarring precancerous lesions of the skin and certain cancers. This technique can also treat multiple lesions. One or more treatments may be needed.