Topical aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris
First Claim
1. A method for treating a sebaceous gland disorder comprising the steps of a) topically applying 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to a section of skin afflicted with a sebaceous gland disorder, wherein the ALA is compounded for delivery to sebaceous glands and is converted into a photosensitizing agent actuable by energy that penetrates outer layers of epidermis, b) causing a sufficient amount of the ALA to infiltrate into spaces in the skin;
- and c) exposing the infiltrated section of skin to about 10 J/cm2 of energy or greater to cause the photosensitizing agent to become photodynamically activated and durably modulate the sebaceous gland disorder.
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Abstract
Light treatments of sebaceous gland disorders with 5-aminolevulinic acid and photodynamic therapy are disclosed. A preferred treatment includes topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid to the skin followed by light exposures with repeated treatment at various intervals. At low doses of ALA and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in single or multiple treatments, improvement in the sebaceous gland disorder, e.g., acne, provides the discovery that diminishment in sebum secretion and the eradication of bacteria occurs. At high doses of ALA and a single high energy PDT treatment, permanent changes to the sebaceous gland and sebum secretion have been discovered.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for treating a sebaceous gland disorder comprising the steps of
a) topically applying 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to a section of skin afflicted with a sebaceous gland disorder, wherein the ALA is compounded for delivery to sebaceous glands and is converted into a photosensitizing agent actuable by energy that penetrates outer layers of epidermis, b) causing a sufficient amount of the ALA to infiltrate into spaces in the skin; - and
c) exposing the infiltrated section of skin to about 10 J/cm2 of energy or greater to cause the photosensitizing agent to become photodynamically activated and durably modulate the sebaceous gland disorder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 11. The method of claim 11, wherein the treatment opens the opening.
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22. A method for modifying pilosebaceous units, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) topically applying ALA to a section of a subject'"'"'s skin, wherein the ALA is compounded to enter the subject'"'"'s skin and be converted into a photosensitizing agent localized at a pilosebaceous unit and photo-actuable by energy which penetrates outer layers of epidermis; and
b) exposing the section of skin to about 10 J/cm2 of energy or greater to cause the photosensitizing agent to become photodynamically activated and modify the pilosebaceous unit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 27, 28)
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25. A method for treating acne, comprising the steps of:
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a) topically applying 5-amino levulinic acid (ALA) in the range of between about 0.1 and about 1 percent by weight to an area of skin afflicted with acne, wherein the ALA is converted into a photosensitizing agent that is activated by energy which penetrates outer layers of epidermis; and
b) exposing the infiltrated section of skin to energy in the range of about 1 to about 10 J/cm2 to cause the photosensitizing agent to become photodynamically activated and durably eradicate bacteria associated with acne.
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26. A method for a permanent cessation of acne, comprising the steps of:
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a) topically applying 5-amino levulinic acid (ALA) in the range of between about 10 to about 30 percent by weight to skin afflicted with acne, wherein the ALA is converted into a photosensitizing agent localized in a pilosebaceous unit and activated by energy that penetrates outer layers of epidermis;
b) causing a sufficient amount of ALA to infiltrate the skin; and
c) exposing the infiltrated section of skin to energy in the range of about 50 to about 200 j/cm2 to cause the photosensitizing agent to become photodynamically activated, thereby causing microscarring about the sebaceous glands in the afflicted area occurs.
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29. A method for the treatment or prevention of acne, comprising the steps of:
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a) topically applying 5-amino levulinic acid (ALA) in the range of between about 0.10 to about 30 percent by weight to skin and a substance which absorbs UV radiation in the UVA or UVB range, wherein the ALA is converted into a photosensitizing agent that is activated by energy which penetrates outer layers of epidermis;
b) causing a sufficient amount of ALA to infiltrate the pilosebaceous unit; and
c) exposing the infiltrated section of skin to sunlight in the range of about 1 to about 50 J/cm2 to cause the photosensitizing agent to become photodynamically activated eradicating the bacteria associated with acne.
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Specification