This study quant. determines the capacity of different 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) derivatives to induce photoactive porphyrins (PAP) formation and subsequently photodynamically inactivate different strains of Propionibacterium acnes.Furthermore, the results were compared to clin. approved compounds such as 5-ALA, Me aminolevulinate (MAL) and hexyl aminolevulinate (HAL) although the latter is currently not approved for dermatol. use.HAL induced only insignificant amounts of porphyrins but the highest PAP formation was observed with benzyl aminolevulinate (BzAL) and DGME at 30 mM.Similar results were obtained with the two clin. strains of P. acnes, E5947 and VA2376.The two moderately liphophilic 5-ALA derivatives, BzAL and DGME, both demonstrated the capacity to induce high PAP formation, efficiently photoinactivate high bacterial fractions, up to 99.99%, and show no dark toxicity at doses up to 30 mM.BzAL and 5-ALA-DGME represent to be potent alternatives to MAL and 5-ALA for the treatment of P. acnes.In the future, their efficiency to target sebaceous glands as well as reduction of the common side effects such as pain, or contact dermatitis should be investigated clin. to further optimize PDT treatment of acne vulgaris.