Efficacy of ALA-PDT for epidermoid cyst on the face: A retrospective study

Background: Epidermoid cysts are usually single, benign, keratin-filled cysts which occur mainly on the face and upper trunk of young adults. Surgical resection is the main treatment, which inevitably leaves scars and may recur. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been reported as a non-invasive and prom...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Haiyan Zhang, Yu Yan, Yan Zhao, Zhongxia Zhou, Jiawen Gao, Ronald Sroka, Linglin Zhang, Xiuli Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572100025001735
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849240271834841088
author Haiyan Zhang
Yu Yan
Yan Zhao
Zhongxia Zhou
Jiawen Gao
Ronald Sroka
Linglin Zhang
Xiuli Wang
author_facet Haiyan Zhang
Yu Yan
Yan Zhao
Zhongxia Zhou
Jiawen Gao
Ronald Sroka
Linglin Zhang
Xiuli Wang
author_sort Haiyan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Background: Epidermoid cysts are usually single, benign, keratin-filled cysts which occur mainly on the face and upper trunk of young adults. Surgical resection is the main treatment, which inevitably leaves scars and may recur. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been reported as a non-invasive and promising treatment for various skin diseases with cosmetic benefits.Methods: 14 patients with single epidermoid cyst located on the face received ALA-PDT treatment. After the plum-blossom needle pretreatment, cyst was incubated with 5 % ALA cream for 30 min and then irradiated with 633 nm LED red light. If complete remission wasn’t achieved after one session of ALA-PDT treatment, more sessions would be repeated once every 1–2 weeks. Follow-ups were conducted every 2 weeks after the end of treatment.Results: All patients achieved complete regression of cyst after 1 to 3 ALA-PDT sessions. None of the patients experienced recurrence or scarring during the follow-up period (0.5 to 28months). Mild adverse effects were observed, including transient pain, erythema, and edema.Conclusion: In this observational study, ALA-PDT showed good efficacy and mild adverse reactions, suggesting that ALA-PDT is a promising treatment for epidermoid cysts on the face with cosmetic benefits.
format Article
id doaj-art-07d08ae980944a14b00522e89389042a
institution Kabale University
issn 1572-1000
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
spelling doaj-art-07d08ae980944a14b00522e89389042a2025-08-20T04:00:40ZengElsevierPhotodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy1572-10002025-08-015410464110.1016/j.pdpdt.2025.104641Efficacy of ALA-PDT for epidermoid cyst on the face: A retrospective studyHaiyan Zhang0Yu Yan1Yan Zhao2Zhongxia Zhou3Jiawen Gao4Ronald Sroka5Linglin Zhang6Xiuli Wang7Institute of Photomedicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200043, ChinaInstitute of Photomedicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200043, ChinaInstitute of Photomedicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200043, ChinaInstitute of Photomedicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200043, ChinaInstitute of Photomedicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200043, ChinaLaser-Forschungslabor, LIFE Center, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg, Germany; Department of Urology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Photomedicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200043, China; Corresponding authors.Institute of Photomedicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200043, China; Corresponding authors.Background: Epidermoid cysts are usually single, benign, keratin-filled cysts which occur mainly on the face and upper trunk of young adults. Surgical resection is the main treatment, which inevitably leaves scars and may recur. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been reported as a non-invasive and promising treatment for various skin diseases with cosmetic benefits.Methods: 14 patients with single epidermoid cyst located on the face received ALA-PDT treatment. After the plum-blossom needle pretreatment, cyst was incubated with 5 % ALA cream for 30 min and then irradiated with 633 nm LED red light. If complete remission wasn’t achieved after one session of ALA-PDT treatment, more sessions would be repeated once every 1–2 weeks. Follow-ups were conducted every 2 weeks after the end of treatment.Results: All patients achieved complete regression of cyst after 1 to 3 ALA-PDT sessions. None of the patients experienced recurrence or scarring during the follow-up period (0.5 to 28months). Mild adverse effects were observed, including transient pain, erythema, and edema.Conclusion: In this observational study, ALA-PDT showed good efficacy and mild adverse reactions, suggesting that ALA-PDT is a promising treatment for epidermoid cysts on the face with cosmetic benefits.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S15721000250017355-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)Photodynamic therapy (PDT)Epidermoid cysts
spellingShingle Haiyan Zhang
Yu Yan
Yan Zhao
Zhongxia Zhou
Jiawen Gao
Ronald Sroka
Linglin Zhang
Xiuli Wang
Efficacy of ALA-PDT for epidermoid cyst on the face: A retrospective study
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)
Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Epidermoid cysts
title Efficacy of ALA-PDT for epidermoid cyst on the face: A retrospective study
title_full Efficacy of ALA-PDT for epidermoid cyst on the face: A retrospective study
title_fullStr Efficacy of ALA-PDT for epidermoid cyst on the face: A retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of ALA-PDT for epidermoid cyst on the face: A retrospective study
title_short Efficacy of ALA-PDT for epidermoid cyst on the face: A retrospective study
title_sort efficacy of ala pdt for epidermoid cyst on the face a retrospective study
topic 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)
Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Epidermoid cysts
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572100025001735
work_keys_str_mv AT haiyanzhang efficacyofalapdtforepidermoidcystonthefacearetrospectivestudy
AT yuyan efficacyofalapdtforepidermoidcystonthefacearetrospectivestudy
AT yanzhao efficacyofalapdtforepidermoidcystonthefacearetrospectivestudy
AT zhongxiazhou efficacyofalapdtforepidermoidcystonthefacearetrospectivestudy
AT jiawengao efficacyofalapdtforepidermoidcystonthefacearetrospectivestudy
AT ronaldsroka efficacyofalapdtforepidermoidcystonthefacearetrospectivestudy
AT linglinzhang efficacyofalapdtforepidermoidcystonthefacearetrospectivestudy
AT xiuliwang efficacyofalapdtforepidermoidcystonthefacearetrospectivestudy