title: Photoadaptation of vitiliginous skin to targeted ultraviolet B phototherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing doses of ultraviolet (UV) radiation are tolerated in patients with vitiligo, due to photoadaptation. In this pilot study, five patients with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV-VI with vitiligo received six treatments of targeted UVB phototherapy over a 3-week period.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate photoadaptation, minimal erythema dose (MED) testing was conducted on treated and untreated vitiliginous and normal skin at baseline and after three and six treatments. One patient had unattainable MED values, and was hence excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percent change in MED from before to after all treatments in vitiliginous skin ranged from 0% to 128%, with a mean of 48.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pilot phase of this study suggests possible photoadaptation of vitiliginous skin of some patients to targeted UVB phototherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivard
authors.forename: Camile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hexsel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Faith M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: Henry W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Iltefat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamzavi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy