Phototherapy – Light treatment

There are a number of medical and surgical procedures aimed at restoring pigmentation and achieving a satisfactory cosmetic result, but the best-known and most effective treatment for vitiligo is undoubtedly phototherapy. Phototherapy is typically recommended for patients who have not responded to topical treatments and has been used to treat vitiligo since the early 19th century.
You can either opt for home phototherapy using a handheld UVB lamp or attend medical facilities for regular light therapy, often combined with psoralen – a prescription medicine that increases the skin’s sensitivity to UV radiation.

In our online shop, we offer a high-quality German device – Dermalight 80R – a handheld lamp specifically designed for home use.

Key features of the Dermalight 80R UVB lamp

The Dermalight 80 is a premium-quality German handheld UVB phototherapy lamp suitable for treating various skin conditions, including psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, and similar disorders affecting the body and scalp. It uses narrowband UV-B/311nm technology with a precisely targeted energy spectrum peaking at 311nm, which helps minimise side effects such as redness and itching. Treatment times are shorter, with improved efficacy and reduced discomfort.

The lamp can be used on all areas of the body, including the scalp, thanks to the special comb attachment included. This comb also serves as a distance guide for consistent treatment on other areas.
While designed for home therapy, the Dermalight 80 is also trusted by dermatologists, clinics, and hospitals worldwide. It complies with strict EU safety standards and holds a CE certificate as a certified medical device, ensuring it meets all health and safety regulations.

Benefits of using the Dermalight handheld lamp:

• Suitable for treating both body and scalp
• Large treatment area: 5 cm x 15 cm (2" x 6")
• Portable, lightweight, and easy to use
• Safe and effective
• Short treatment sessions
• Simple to clean
• Ideal for home therapy
• Made in Germany

Treatment procedure

Treatment duration varies by individual, but on average, therapy lasts between 4 and 14 months. The aim is to halt disease progression and trigger repigmentation, leading to visible cosmetic improvement. While it requires patience, many customers have reported seeing initial results within just a few weeks, especially in smaller affected areas.

You can explore real-life repigmentation results using the UVB lamp and our vitiligo products in the section "Your Results".

How to use the lamp:

1. Start with an initial exposure of 20 seconds on the affected area (11x4 cm), gradually increasing with each session until you reach a maximum of 4–5 minutes.
2. Place the lamp directly on the affected area for irradiation.

Remember, every skin type is different, so there’s no universal exposure time. Ideally, the skin should show slight redness shortly after treatment, which may persist until the next day.

If your skin remains red or irritated after two days, reduce the exposure time (e.g., if 4 minutes caused redness lasting into day 3, reduce the next session to 3 minutes and 15 seconds).

How often should I use the lamp?

• Phase 1: Irradiate 3 times per week for the first 3 months (start at 20 seconds, gradually increasing to a max. of 4 minutes).
• Phase 2: After 3 months, reduce to 2 sessions per week.

In summer, take a break from therapy to avoid exposing your skin to multiple radiation sources.

If it's sunny on a day when you’re using the lamp (e.g. spring), apply a 50+ sunscreen after irradiation to protect your skin from excess UV exposure. Spring sunlight is also intense and may cause extra redness when combined with phototherapy.

While some people see results in as little as a week, the response varies depending on the individual and severity of vitiligo.

Phototherapy should be supervised by a dermatologist who will monitor your progress and adjust your treatment accordingly.

Important:

Only expose your skin to UVB light or sunlight once any redness has completely subsided and the vitiligo patches appear pale again. This is why sessions are limited to 2–3 times per week, allowing the skin to recover between treatments.

What can phototherapy be combined with? 

1. VITISTOP Gel – A targeted cream designed for vitiligo repigmentation. It contains a blend of active ingredients including Superoxide Dismutase (S.O.D.), Psoralea seed oil (Babchi oil), copper, zinc, and vitamins B5 and B12 that support skin pigmentation.

Apply the gel at least 60 minutes before using the UVB lamp or sunbathing.

Always use a sunscreen if spending more than 10 minutes in the sun.

Vitistop Gel increases skin sensitivity to light, so exposure to UV must be carefully controlled.

You can find detailed instructions on how to use the gel HERE.

Example result after a few months of using Vitistop Gel:

2. VITISTOP Tablets  – Take one tablet every morning after breakfast. They provide all essential vitamins and minerals, eliminating the need for other supplements.

After 3 months, take a 2–4 week break.

3. Protopic 0.1% – Apply twice daily (morning and evening). Do not apply before UVB treatment. Either skip Protopic on those days or use it afterwards. Long-term use is safe, but consult your dermatologist for personalised advice.

4. Additional supplements – such as Chlorella, marine collagen, and fruit smoothies – can be beneficial in managing vitiligo.

Read more about essential vitamins in our blog: "Vitamins for Vitiligo".

Finally, whether you choose home treatment or professional sessions, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing stress are crucial.

Learn more in our blog: "Vitiligo and Stress".

We’ve prepared a simplified home treatment guide for the Dermalight 80 lamp: "The Home Treatment" – E-book

For advice on treatment, product selection or orders, feel free to contact us.

Wishing you the best on your journey to repigmentation!

We’d love to hear about your results – feel free to share them with us.

Your Vitiligoshop Team