title: Phototherapy: The vitiligo management pillar.
abstract: Phototherapy has been the mainstay of vitiligo therapy for several decades. A variety of wavelengths and modalities are available, but narrowband ultraviolet B remains the safest and most commonly used treatment. Acting on multiple steps in vitiligo pathogenesis, narrowband ultraviolet B is one of the few therapies that can effectively induce stabilization and stimulate repigmentation. Achievement of optimal results involves using a combination of appropriate treatment protocols, careful patient selection, and patient education to set expectations. Individual patient characteristics, including disease activity, vitiligo phenotype, lesion location, and skin phototype, should all be considered, along with combination therapies.
authors.affiliation: Phototherapy Unit, Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. Electronic address: Samiaesmat@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esmat
authors.affiliation: Phototherapy Unit, Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Wedad
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mostafa
authors.affiliation: Phototherapy Unit, Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rehab A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hegazy
authors.affiliation: Phototherapy Unit, Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shalaby
authors.affiliation: Newton-Wellesley Dermatology Associates, Wellesley, MA.
authors.forename: Vaneeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.affiliation: Phototherapy Unit, Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Randa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.affiliation: Phototherapy Unit, Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Medhat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Mofty
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000975:Antioxidants; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors