5-Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy versus minocycline for moderate-to-severe rosacea: A single-center, randomized, evaluator-blind controlled study

Abstract

Background: 5-Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) showed potential to treat rosacea according to recent studies; however, a lack of clinical evidence and unclear adverse effects limit its use.

Objective: To compare the effect of ALA-PDT vs minocycline on rosacea.

Methods: In this single-center, randomized, evaluator-blind, controlled study, patients with moderate-to-severe rosacea were allocated to receive 3 to 5 sessions of ALA-PDT or 8 weeks of 100 mg daily minocycline treatment, followed by a 24-week follow-up.

Results: Of all the 44 randomized patients, 41 received complete treatment (ALA-PDT: 20 and minocycline: 21 patients). At the end of treatment, ALA-PDT showed noninferior improvement of papulopustular lesions and Rosacea-specific Quality of Life compared with minocycline (median reduction of lesion count: 19 vs 22, median change of Rosacea-specific Quality of Life score: 0.48 vs 0.53). The Clinician's Erythema Assessment success of ALA-PDT was lower than that of minocycline's (35% vs 67%). Demodex density and relapse rate were comparable in both groups. Erythema, mild pain, and exudation were the most common adverse reactions of ALA-PDT.

Limitations: Limited sample size restricted us from drawing further conclusions.

Conclusion: As minocycline does, ALA-PDT can improve rosacea mainly in papulopustular lesions and patients' quality of life, indicating a new option for rosacea.

Keywords: Demodex; inflammation/inflammatory; minocycline; photodynamic therapy; photomedicine; rosacea.