PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY METHOD FOR SKIN DISORDERS
The present invention is directed to methods of treating diseases and disorders of the skin (e.g., acne) with heat-enabled photodynamic therapy (HEPT).
1 . A therapeutic method of treating facial acne in a subject in need thereof, comprising (i) administering heat to an affected area of the subject's skin using a thermal delivery device to achieve a temperature of between about 38 and about 42° C. for a suitable time simultaneously with incubating a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least 5-ALA; and (ii) administering a suitable dose of light to the affected area, thereby treating the facial acne.
2 . The therapeutic method of claim 1 , wherein the incubation time is less than about 10 hours, or less than about 5 hours, or less than about 3 hours.
3 . The therapeutic method of claim 1 , wherein heat is applied using a sodium acetate mask.
4 . The therapeutic method of claim 1 , wherein the heat is administered in (i) for about 60 minutes.
5 . The therapeutic method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a gel or a nano-emulsion.
6 . The therapeutic method of claim 1 , wherein the 5-ALA is present at about 20 wt. % of the pharmaceutical composition or wherein the 5-ALA is present at about 10 wt. % of the pharmaceutical composition.
7 . The therapeutic method of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength of the light is between about 320 nm and about 780 nm.
8 . The therapeutic method of claim 1 , wherein the dose of the light is about 5 J/cm 2 to 200 J/cm 2 .
9 . The therapeutic method of claim 1 , wherein the acne is mild acne, moderate acne, severe acne or inflammatory acne.
10 . A non-therapeutic method of treating facial acne in a subject in need thereof, comprising (i) administering heat to an affected area of the subject's skin using a thermal delivery device to achieve a temperature of between about 38 and about 42° C. for a suitable time simultaneously with incubating a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least 5-ALA and (ii) administering a suitable dose of light to the affected area, thereby treating the facial acne.
11 . The non-therapeutic method of claim 10 , wherein the incubation time is less than about 10 hours, or less than about 5 hours, or less than about 3 hours.
12 . The non-therapeutic method of claim 10 , wherein heat is applied using a sodium acetate mask.
13 . The non-therapeutic method of claim 10 , wherein the heat is administered in (i) for about 60 minutes.
14 . The non-therapeutic method of claim 10 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a gel or a nano-emulsion.
15 . The non-therapeutic method of claim 10 , wherein the 5-ALA is present at about 20 wt. % of the pharmaceutical composition or wherein the 5-ALA is present at about 10 wt. % of the pharmaceutical composition.
16 . The non-therapeutic method of claim 10 , wherein the wavelength of the light is between about 320 nm and about 780 nm.
17 . The non-therapeutic method of claim 10 , wherein the dose of the light is about 5 J/cm 2 to 200 J/cm 2 .
18 . The non-therapeutic method of claim 10 , wherein the acne is mild acne, moderate acne, severe acne or inflammatory acne.