Photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinic acid followed by illumination with a variety of light sources provides broad therapeutic results for various dermatologic conditions. We undertook to review photodynamic therapy as it is practiced at the University of Miami, Florida, and its utility in treating cosmetically sensitive skin conditions, such as actinic keratoses, actinic cheilitis, photodamage, acne vulgaris, hidradenitis suppurativa, and verruca vulgaris.