The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    Photodynamic therapy treats acne

    Photodynamic therapy (PDT) — also called photo radiation therapy, phototherapy, or photo chemotherapy — involves using a drug called a photosensitizing agent, which is activated by being exposed to a specific wave length of light. It’s often used to treat certain cancers. Now it’s being used to treat acne too.

    Two studies (here and here) of similar design concluded that topical methyl aminolaevulinate (MAL)-PDT is effective for moderate to severe inflammatory facial acne.

    It’s also very painful.

    12 weeks after 2 treatments given 2 weeks apart, both studies reported a statistically significant greater reduction in the total inflammatory lesion count with MAL-PDT compared to placebo PDT. In one study there was a 68% reduction from baseline in inflammatory lesions vs. no change in the control group.

    Both studies also pointed to pain as a significant side effect. In fact, in one study pain was responsible for 7 out of 21 patients dropping out after the first treatment.

    MAL-PDT might have a role, but is it worth the discomfort?

    10/25/06 22:21 JR

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