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Photodynamic therapy (PDT) treats both AK and surrounding precancerous areas, lowering the risk of new AK formation. Conventional PDT is effective but less broadly adopted due to office-based light equipment and procedural pain; daylight PDT offers a more accessible, well-tolerated option.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/daylight-photodynamic-therapy-for-actinic-keratosis-and-field-cancerization-a-narrative-review/361749/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/daylight-photodynamic-therapy-for-actinic-keratosis-and-field-cancerization-a-narrative-review/361749.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Finn","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-27","2026-09-23",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",17,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"Why must patients with actinic keratosis also be treated for field cancerization?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Field cancerization involves widespread subclinical genetic and cellular alterations in chronically sun-exposed skin. Treating both AK and the field reduces the risk of developing new AKs and progression toward skin cancer.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What is the role of photodynamic therapy in this setting?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Photodynamic therapy addresses AK lesions and targets surrounding sun-damaged areas containing precancerous cells. This dual action reduces the likelihood of new AK formation.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Why is daylight photodynamic therapy considered more practical than conventional PDT?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Conventional PDT requires office-based light source equipment and is associated with peri-procedural pain, which can limit real-world use. Daylight PDT uses natural sunlight for activation and is described as effective, well-tolerated, and convenient with high satisfaction rates.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},361749,1790461701,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":140,"language":141,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":142,"faqs":143,"seo_title":144,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":145,"read_time":146},34359740700684,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/1f400023980c374ae676?_k=1777273430885731487","Review  \nDaylight Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratosis and Field Cancerization: A Narrative Review  \nElena Sotiriou 1, Dimitra Kiritsi 1,2,*, Nikolaos Chaitidis 1, Michael Arabatzis 1, Aimilios Lallas 1 and Efstratios Vakirlis 1  \nAcademic Editors: Ángele Juarranzand Alessandro Pileri  \nReceived: 10 February 2025  \nRevised: 13 March 2025  \nAccepted: 18 March 2025  \nPublished: 20 March 2025  \nCitation: Sotiriou, E.; Kiritsi, D.; Chaitidis, N.; Arabatzis, M.; Lallas, A.; Vakirlis, E. Daylight Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratosis and Field Cancerization: A Narrative Review. Cancers 2025, 17, 1050 . [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)cancers17061050  \nCopyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://creativecommons.org/](https://creativecommons.org/)[ ](https://creativecommons.org/)[licenses/by/4.0/](licenses/by/4.0/)) .  \n1 First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; [elenasotiriou@yahoo.gr](elenasotiriou@yahoo.gr) (E.S.); [nchaitidauth@gmail.com](nchaitidauth@gmail.com) (N.C.); [marabatzis@auth.gr](marabatzis@auth.gr) (M.A.); [emlallas@gmail.com](emlallas@gmail.com) (A.L.); [svakirlis@hotmail.com](svakirlis@hotmail.com) (E.V.)  \n2 Department of Dermatology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg,  \n79085 Freiburg, Germany  \n* Correspondence: [dimkyritsi@auth.gr](dimkyritsi@auth.gr)  \nSimple Summary: For patients with actinic keratosis (AK) and chronic sun damage, it is crucial to treat both AK and field cancerization to prevent skin cancer. While most AKs do not progress to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), the majority of cSCC cases arise from AKs. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) effectively targets both non-hyperkeratotic AK lesions and surrounding sun-damaged skin, reducing the risk of new AKs. Though PDT is proven to be safe and effective, it is underused due to the need for office-based equipment and associated pain. Daylight PDT, which uses natural sunlight for activation, could make PDT more accessible in everyday dermatological care.  \nAbstract: For patients suffering from actinic keratosis (AK) and clinical evidence of chronic sun damage, achieving both actinic keratosis eradication and treating field cancerizationis essential. AKs should not be underestimated. While the majority do not progress tosquamous cell carcinoma (SCC), most cases of SCC develop from pre-existing AKs and nobody can differentiate between AKs that will develop into SCC and those that will either resolve on their own or remain unchanged. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) addresses AKsand also targets surrounding sun-damaged areas with precancerous cells. This dual action reduces the risk of new AK formation, making PDT a valuable approach for comprehensive skin cancer prevention in chronically sun-exposed individuals. The conventional PDT (cPDT) has already been proven a safe and effective method to treat non-hyperkeratoticactinic keratosis and field cancerization. However, in the real world, PDT has not reached its maximum potential use, possibly due to the need of an office-based light source equipment and the associated peri-procedural pain. The daylight variation of PDT (dPDT), which uses natural sunlight to activate the photosensitizer and eradicate the premalignant cells, is an effective, well-tolerated, and convenient treatment for AKs and field cancerization, with high satisfaction rates reported by both patients and physicians. Although its efficacy may be reduced in hyperkeratotic lesions and areas with insufficient sunlight, combining daylight PDT with lesion-targeted treatments and using indoor alternatives can help overcome these limitations. Additionally, the reduced peri-procedural pain and fewer topical side","cbCaivF2WSicsiNb","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaivF2WSicsiNb","pdf",409201,13,"English","# Introduction\n# Photodynamic Therapy for AK and Field Cancerization\n## Conventional PDT\n## Daylight PDT (dPDT)\n# Clinical Evidence and Practical Considerations\n## Efficacy in Different Lesion Types\n## Pain and Side Effects\n# Comparative Treatment Options","[{\"question\":\"Why must patients with actinic keratosis also be treated for field cancerization?\",\"answer\":\"Field cancerization involves widespread subclinical genetic and cellular alterations in chronically sun-exposed skin. Treating both AK and the field reduces the risk of developing new AKs and progression toward skin cancer.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the role of photodynamic therapy in this setting?\",\"answer\":\"Photodynamic therapy addresses AK lesions and targets surrounding sun-damaged areas containing precancerous cells. This dual action reduces the likelihood of new AK formation.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is daylight photodynamic therapy considered more practical than conventional PDT?\",\"answer\":\"Conventional PDT requires office-based light source equipment and is associated with peri-procedural pain, which can limit real-world use. Daylight PDT uses natural sunlight for activation and is described as effective, well-tolerated, and convenient with high satisfaction rates.\"}]","Daylight Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratosis and Field Cancerization - A Narrative Review | PDF",1790145492,33]