Light therapy
Adults or children afflicted by vitiligo may benefit from phototherapy or light-based treatment if:
There is extensive vitiligo.
Vitiligo has a substantial impact on your quality of life.
Topical treatments are ineffective for you.
Research indicates that phototherapy has a greater effect on vitiligo, particularly when combined with other treatments. During a phototherapy session, the specialist exposes your epidermis to ultraviolet A (UVA) or ultraviolet B (UVB) light from a special lamp. You could initially take psoralen to make your epidermis less sensitive to light. You can either consume psoralen orally or add it to your ablution water. This combination is sometimes referred to as psoralen and UVA light or PUVA.
Phototherapy may increase the risk of developing skin cancer due to the additional exposure to UVA radiation. With UVB light phototherapy, however, the risk of developing skin cancer is reduced. Before you decide to undergo phototherapy, your dermatologist must discuss the risks with you. Sunlamps commonly found in homes are not recommended for light therapy. They are not as effective as the hospital phototherapy you will receive.
