Home phototherapy in vitiligo

Mohammad T, Silpa-Archa N, Griffith J, Lim H, Hamzavi I

Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2017;33:241-252. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12321

Until recently, the mainline treatment option for vitiligo (psoralen plus ultraviolet A) was also paired with negative and undesirable side effects until narrowband ultraviolet B therapy was introduced. Many added benefits come with this switch of therapeutic modality including a decrease in the number of side effects, larger increase in administration and improved color match. A large variety of phototherapy devices and light sources provide the opportunity to personalize the treatments to be patient specific and even home-based therapy. Based on this article, home phototherapy should be considered for treatment of vitiligo. “Not only is it safe and effective, but it eases many hardships associated with in-office phototherapy.”