Topical aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris

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.

1 . A method for the treatment or prevention of a sebaceous gland disorder, comprising the steps of:
 topically applying an effective amount of a composition having at least one of 5-aminolevulinic acid, a salt of 5-aminolevulinic acid, and a pharmacologically equivalent form of 5-aminolevulinic acid to a skin surface, wherein the composition is converted into a photosensitizing agent that is able to be activated by energy which penetrates outer layers of epidermis, thereby enabling a sufficient amount of the composition to infiltrate a pilosebaceous unit distal of the skin surface; and   exposing the infiltrated section of skin to light in the range of about 1 J/cm 2  to about 100 J/cm 2  to cause the photosensitizing agent to become photodynamically activated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sebaceous gland disorder is at least one of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea, and sebaceous gland hyperplasia. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light is in the range of about 1 J/cm 2  to about 50 J/cm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light comprises sunlight. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the sunlight is in the range of about 1 J/cm 2  to about 50 J/cm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the composition is in the range of about 0.1 percent by weight to about 10 percent by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of topically applying a substance which absorbs UV radiation in the UVA or UVB range to the skin surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the composition is combined with the substance which absorbs UV radiation in the UVA or UVB range. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a concentration of the substance which absorbs UV radiation in the UVA or UVB range is in the range of about 0.1 percent by weight to about 30 percent by weight. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein UVB filters of the substance absorb energy between about 290 nm and about 320 nm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein UVB filters of the substance comprise at least one of a 3-benzylidene camphor, 4-aminobenzoic acid, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, benzophenone, 2-phenylbenzimidazloe, and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein UVB filters of the substance are oil soluble. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein UVB filters of the substance are water soluble. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein UVA filters of the substance absorb energy between about 320 nm an about 400 nm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein UVA filters of the substance comprise dibenzoylmethane and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmacologically equivalent form of 5-aminolevulinic acid comprises at least one of a pharmacologically equivalent amide of 5-aminolevulinic acid and a pharmacologically equivalent ester of 5-aminolevulinic acid.