Photodynamic therapy: new treatment for refractory lymphocytic infiltration of the skin

Abstract

Lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (LIS) is a relatively uncommon skin condition, first described by Jessner and Kanof in 1953. LIS presents mainly on the face, in particular on the cheeks and earlobe, but also on the neck, upper trunk or proximal limbs of middle-aged adults. LIS is often resistant to treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) refers to the process of applying a topical prodrug, such as 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) or methyl 5-aminolaevulinic acid (MAL), followed by irradiation with visible or ultraviolet light. The prodrug is converted by target tissue to photoactive porphyrins, which lead to local tissue destruction when activated by light. We describe a 48-year-old woman with refractory LIS, who was treated with MAL-PDT.

Mimicking Rosacea? Jessner’s Lymphocytic Infiltration of the Skin: A Case Report

“…Systemic therapies including proquazone, hydroxychloroquine, etretinate, thalidomide, auranofin, and methotrexate have been used. 9 , 10 Less common treatment approaches encompass laser therapy and photodynamic therapy. Minocycline, known for its multiple anti-inflammatory mechanisms, including the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines and modulation of immune cell function, has shown promise in the treatment of JLIS.…”