Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy is a treatment that combines a light-sensitive drug, called a photosensitizer, with light of a specific wavelength to destroy targeted cells. The photosensitizer is applied to or administered into the body and accumulates in the tissue of interest; when that tissue is then exposed to light, the …

Curated from this journal's research 📚 4 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 13× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2471-2175 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Photodynamic therapy is a treatment that combines a light-sensitive drug, called a photosensitizer, with light of a specific wavelength to destroy targeted cells. The photosensitizer is applied to or administered into the body and accumulates in the tissue of interest; when that tissue is then exposed to light, the activated drug reacts with oxygen to produce reactive molecules that damage and kill the targeted cells. Because the effect occurs only where both the photosensitizer and the light are present, photodynamic therapy can be relatively selective and can spare much of the surrounding healthy tissue. In dermatology and oncology it is used to treat certain skin cancers and precancerous lesions, as well as some non-cancerous skin conditions, and it is also applied in other medical fields. The approach is generally less invasive than surgery and can often be repeated, though treated areas may be temporarily sensitive to light. Outcomes depend on factors such as the choice of photosensitizer, the light dose, and the depth and type of the lesion being treated. Research on photodynamic therapy addresses new photosensitizers, light-delivery methods, and applications across different conditions. As part of Dermatologic Research And Therapy, this open-access page gathers peer-reviewed studies relevant to light-based treatments, skin lesions and cancers, and non-surgical therapeutic approaches.

Research published in this journal

4 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 4 articles above have been cited 13 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Photodynamic Therapy, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Dermatologic Research And Therapy (ISSN 2471-2175).

Journal editorial board
Wenbin Tan · United States Anand Rotte · United States David Fisher · United States

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.