Although the concept of combining light with a photosensitizing agent for the treatment of disease states has been around for centuries, the understanding of mechanisms of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and the rapid development of PDT strategies have been enhanced over the past few years. PDT is a promising modality for the management of various tumours and non-malignant diseases. PDT is a well-established treatment modality which has been mainly shown to be effective for dermato-oncological conditions like: actinic keratoses, basal cell carcinoma, Bowen’s disease and squamous cell carcinoma. This review summarizes the current status for topical PDT.