Laser phototherapy for Vitiligo

Overview
Laser is a form of phototherapy that treats small areas of skin affected by vitiligo.¹ Treatment involves a narrow band of UVB light delivered directly to a vitiligo lesion via handheld excimer laser device. Excimer lasers are flexible enough to treat hard-to-reach areas, such as ears and groin.²

Unlike narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) therapy, excimer lasers use a higher, more targeted dose of energy, which shortens the course of treatment and avoids affecting healthy skin.² Recent studies show that laser may produce better results than NB-UVB, the current phototherapy of choice, with an estimated 70 percent effectiveness in people with vitiligo.^2,3 To enhance response, laser treatment may also be combined with topical corticosteroids or tacrolimus.²

Excimer laser works best when there are only a few localized areas to treat. Some physicians start treatment with NB-UVB on larger areas, then switch to excimer to treat any remaining spots.¹

How do I take it?
Laser treatments for vitiligo are typically performed one-to-three times a week for an average of seven weeks. UV radiation dosage is determined by skin type, age, skin condition, and response to treatment.²

Side effects
Common side effects include redness and sunburn, hyperpigmentation, new skin lesions, and possible reactivation of herpes virus infection.²

Long-term exposure to UVB radiation can cause skin aging and skin cancer.¹

External resources

1. Vitiligo Treatments – UMass Medical Vitiligo Research Center & Clinic. (2014, June 4). Retrieved December 2, 2019, from https://www.umassmed.edu/vitiligo/vitiligo-treatment/
   


2. Excimer 308-nm light treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2019, from https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/excimer-308-nm-light-treatment/
   


3. Eldin, M. M. S., Sami, N. A., Aly, D. G., & Hanafy, N. S. (2017). Comparison Between (311–312 nm) Narrow Band Ultraviolet-B Phototherapy and (308 nm) Monochromatic Excimer Light Phototherapy in Treatment of Vitiligo: A Histopathological Study. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences, 8(3), 123–127. doi: 10.15171/jlms.2017.22