Combination controller and patch for photodynamic therapy of a dermal lesion located at a dermal treatment site on skin including stratum corneum, the controller is optically connected to the patch and the patch includes hydrogel containing hydration agent and photopharmaceutical, the patch covers the site and the hydrogel engages and couples the hydration agent to the stratum corneum to hydrate and soften the stratum corneum to enhance its optical transmissiveness to facilitate the transmission of light therethrough and to enhance its chemical transmissiveness to facilitate the transmission therethrough of the photopharmaceutical for treatment of the dermal lesion, light delivery apparatus are included in the patch for receiving light from the controller and for delivering light through the hydrogel and the hydrated stratum corneum to the site to photoactivate the photopharmaceutical at the site to treat the dermal lesion.