Discover how light therapy can help manage vitiligo by stimulating pigment restoration and improving skin appearance safely and effectively.
Life is full of patches—at work, at home, and sometimes on the skin. While we tackle life’s challenges with determination, we can approach skin changes the same way. The patchy loss of skin color is called vitiligo. In this condition, the skin loses its pigment and may also carry psychological and emotional effects. The Vitiligo Research Foundation estimates that about 2 % of the world’s population—roughly 70 million people—live with vitiligo, which can begin at any age and affects all genders and ethnicities.
How does it occur?
Vitiligo develops when melanocytes, the cells that make skin pigment, are destroyed. As melanin production stops, any area—limbs, face, neck, or skin around body openings—can develop pale, patchy areas. Hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or beard may also turn white prematurely. The disorder is classified as autoimmune: the immune system mistakenly targets the body’s own cells. In addition, the melanocytes in affected skin seem less able to handle oxidative stress, leading to further cell damage.
Light therapy – a promising option
Several treatments aim to restore color, but narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is widely used because it can be both safe and effective. During a session, depigmented skin is exposed to a specific wavelength of UVB light for a duration and dose prescribed by a dermatologist; exposure time is gradually adjusted according to the skin’s response.
NB-UVB may be combined with topical agents such as corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, or vitamin D analogues, although each approach can also be used alone. When light and topical therapies are paired, repigmentation may appear sooner and match surrounding skin more closely. Studies report the best color return on the face and neck, with retrospective and prospective trials noting good cosmetic outcomes for many patients.
For those who view vitiligo as untreatable, consistent NB-UVB sessions can offer visible improvement and may ease the condition’s emotional burden.
PMC review on vitiligo pathogenesis NB-UVB repigmentation data Combination topical and light therapy outcomes
