Comparitive Study Between Uvb Phototherapy Alone and Uvb Photothearpy With Topical 0.03% Tacrolimus for Treatment of Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin disorder that causes substantial social and psychological distress due to multiple patches of depigmentation.Disease can target at any age, but it appears to affect various parts of body due to loss of melanin. Although the exact cause of the disease is unknown, several theories suggest that genetic predisposition, autoimmunity, and increased vulnerability of melanocytes to the deleterious effects of harmful metabolites all play a role in disease causation. It impacts 0.1%-2% of the general population, with a 30% familial prevalence rate.

Vitiligo treatment still presents a therapeutic challenge for dermatologists despite a variety of therapeutic modalities. Topical steroids, ultraviolet B phototherapy (UVB 280nm-320nm), and photochemotherapy (PUVA i.e., psoralen plus UVA 329nm-400nm) are traditional treatment options. Topical calcipotriol and excimer laser are also used. According to research, narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) is effective when used alone.

Few studies, however also, have reported more than 75% re-pigmentation in patients treated with NB-UVB in conjunction with other modalities. Topical immunomodulators (tacrolimus, pimecrolimus) are considered safe and effective long-term treatments for vitiligo because they do not cause skin atrophy, which is associated with long-term use of topical corticosteroids. Tacrolimus is an effective treatment for vitiligo when used alone; in one study, 61% of patients showed more than 75% repigmentation when treated with tacrolimus alone. Another study found that when tacrolimus was combined with NB-UVB, 73% of patients experienced more than 50% repigmentation.

The objective of this research was to present a comparatively new mode of treatment that may be beneficial to vitiligo patients.