aminolevulinic acid + microneedling

Microneedle-assisted photodynamic therapy (MN-PDT) is an investigational dermatological procedure being studied by the University of California, Davis, for the treatment of actinic keratosis. The procedure involves skin pretreatment with a microneedle roller (specifically the MR200 roller with 650-micrometer needles) to create microchannels in the stratum corneum, followed by the topical application of aminolevulinic acid (ALA). The microneedling is intended to enhance the penetration of ALA into dysplastic keratinocytes, potentially allowing for significantly shorter incubation periods compared to standard PDT. Following incubation, the area is exposed to blue light (e.g., the Blu-U unit), which activates the ALA-derived photosensitizer, protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). This activation generates reactive oxygen species that induce selective cell death in the actinic keratosis lesions.

Brand names

Levulan Kerastick

Other names

5-aminolevulinic acid5-ALAMicroneedle-Assisted Photodynamic TherapyMN-PDT