Photodynamic therapy: parameters predictive of pain

The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between pain and skin type, the variation in pain intensity relative to the erythema of lesions caused by the erythematous effect of light, and the correlation between skin type and this redness. Other possible factors related to pain previously considered n the literature (type and location of lesion treated, sex, age) were also investigated. No statistical difference was found between the pain experienced by patients with one or two lesions and those with three or more lesions. Lesions located on the head and neck caused a greater degree of pain than those on the limbs and trunk. However, no statistical difference was evidenced between lesions on the trunk compared with limbs neither by different sexes In our study we found statistical confirmation that patients with skin type III perceived more pain than those with skin type IV. Correlating sex, skin type and age with the value of pain experienced, the highest level of pain was reported by women older than 65 years with skin type III. Thus we can conclude that the predictive value of skin type is far more important than that of sex and age.