Photodynamic therapy with 5-aminolevulinic acid for recalcitrant familial benign pemphigus (Hailey-Hailey disease).

Familial benign pemphigus is a chronic, recurrent, autosomal dominant blistering disease that may significantly affect quality of life. Surgical methods are often needed to control flares in difficult cases. We describe the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) followed by irradiation with incoherent light (ALA-PDT) in 2 patients with chronic, recalcitrant familial benign pemphigus.