Is Monitoring Enhanced Auto-fluorescence Beneficial for the Precise Removal of Tissue From Psoriatic Lesions With Ablative Lasers?

Launched by NICK VAN DER BEEK · Aug 11, 2025

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ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new way to help remove patches of psoriasis, a skin condition that causes red, scaly spots. The study is testing whether using a special blue light technique, called enhanced auto-fluorescence, can help doctors see exactly where the affected skin is so they can remove it more precisely with a laser. The idea is that by shining a certain light on the skin after applying a special cream (called 5-ALA), the psoriasis spots will glow red, making it easier to remove all the diseased skin without removing too much healthy skin. This could help prevent the psoriasis from coming back and reduce scarring.

People who have psoriasis with at least three separate patches on visible parts of their body, like the torso, arms, legs, or face, might be eligible to join. However, certain health conditions like pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, or skin types that are very dark will exclude someone from participating. If you take part, you’ll receive laser treatments at the clinic and need to come back every few days for about two weeks to care for the treated skin as it heals. Because the laser removes the top layers of skin, you can expect a wound that requires attention, and your skin color might temporarily change during healing. The trial will compare this new light-guided method to the standard treatment and to untreated spots, to see if the new approach really works better.

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris of any severity with at least three discrete lesions in optically non-obscured skin located on torso, abdomen, dorsum, legs, arms, face or buttocks.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• • Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis
• • Fitzpatrick skin type \>4.
• • Known allergy to 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) or light sensitivity.
• • Autoimmune disorders.
• • Heavy smoking.
• • Diabetes mellitus type 2
• • Active bacterial or viral infections in the treatment area
• • Recent use of isotretinoin
• • Morbid obesity
• • History of hypertrophic scaring or keloids
• • History of complicated wound healing
• • Body dysmorphic disorder
• • Use of anti-coagulants
• • Use of cyclosporin A or similar immunosuppressive medication
• • Increase in disease severity during the preceding 8 weeks.
• • If treatment area is on the legs: Severe venous insufficiency, severe lymphoedema or angiopathy.