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Simple treatment protocol
A clear routine for supporting repigmentation
The routine combines controlled light exposure, topical support and daily nutritional support.
Simple treatment protocol A clear routine for supporting repigmentation The routine combines controlled light exposure, topical support and daily nutritional support.
Daily support
Take the recommended tablet each day as part of a consistent routine.
Topical support
Apply Vitistop Gel 30 minutes before NB-UVB or controlled sunlight.
Controlled light
Treat two or three times per week, leaving at least 48 hours between sessions.
Adults aged 18+
Adult routine
| When | What to use | How |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Vitistop Tablets | Take 1 tablet daily with water, preferably after breakfast. |
| Evening | Protopic 0,1%/Opzelura, if prescribed | Apply as directed by your doctor. Do not layer it with Vitistop Gel. |
| Light-treatment day | Vitistop Gel | Massage a thin layer into the white patches 30 minutes before light exposure. |
| 2–3 times weekly | 311 nm NB-UVB lamp or controlled sunlight | Follow the device instructions and increase exposure gradually. Leave at least 48 hours between sessions. |
Children aged 17 and under
Children’s routine
| When | What to use | How |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Vitix Tablets | Take 1 tablet daily with water, preferably after breakfast. |
| Evening | Protopic 0,03%/Opzelura, if prescribed | Use only as directed by the child’s doctor or dermatologist. |
| Light-treatment day | Vitistop Gel | Apply a thin layer 30 minutes before light exposure. Do not use for children under 3. |
| 2–3 times weekly | 311 nm NB-UVB lamp or controlled sunlight | Begin with shorter exposure than for adults. An adult must supervise every session and leave at least 48 hours between sessions. |
Important: A child’s treatment plan should be discussed with a GP or dermatologist, especially when prescription creams or phototherapy are used.
Home phototherapy
Preparing for your first NB-UVB session
- Apply Vitistop Gel 30 minutes before the session.
- Plug in the mains lead and switch the UVB unit on.
- Initial exposure time (first session):
- Adults: 30 seconds
- Children: 15 seconds
Dose adjustment
Ongoing NB-UVB treatment directions
- Treat 2–3 times per week, leaving at least 48 hours between UVB sessions.
- Only treat when any redness (erythema) from the previous exposure has subsided and the skin has fully recovered.
A desired skin reaction (erythema - slight redness) typically appears 6–8 hours after UVB exposure:
No redness:
increase UVB exposure time by 20 seconds at the next session.
Mild redness:
if it clears within 24 hours, extend by 20 seconds at the next session.
Noticeable redness:
(desired state) if it is still pink after 24 hours, keep the same time and wait for it to fully fade.
Marked redness:
pause UVB treatment until the skin returns to normal, then reduce the time by 20%.
The typical exposure per spot is about 3–4 minutes, depending on skin type.
Natural alternative
Example routine with controlled sunlight
- Apply Vitistop Gel to the affected areas and wait for approximately 30 minutes.
- Expose the skin to sunlight for around 5 minutes.
- If there is no mild redness by the following day, the exposure time may be increased gradually in steps of approximately 5 minutes.
- Treat 2–3 times per week, leaving at least 48 hours between sessions.
Aim for a slight redness
A desired skin reaction is a slight redness (erythema). This mild, temporary pinkness may occur and can remain visible until the following day.
Typical exposure time
Because sunlight intensity varies depending on the season, the typical exposure time is roughly 15–30 minutes, depending heavily on your skin type and the strength of the sun. The exposure time should always be adjusted individually.
Essential safety rules
- Leave at least 48 hours between light sessions.
- Do not use sunbeds and do not deliberately burn the skin.
- Do not treat skin that is already red, irritated or sunburnt.
- Pause treatment if strong redness, burning, blistering or prolonged irritation occurs.
- Ask a healthcare professional before treatment if you have photosensitivity, a history of skin cancer or take medicines that increase sensitivity to light.
What to expect
Small dots of new pigment may begin to appear after approximately 4–8 weeks, but meaningful progress often requires several months of regular treatment.
Areas respond differently
The face, neck and body often respond more readily. Hands, fingers, feet and joints usually require more patience.
The most common mistakes
Your first month A detailed day-by-day treatment example Consistency is one of the most important parts of vitiligo treatment. The example below shows how tablets, topical treatment and three weekly light sessions can be organised during the first month.
Your first month
A detailed day-by-day treatment example
Consistency is one of the most important parts of vitiligo treatment. The example below shows how tablets, topical treatment and three weekly light sessions can be organised during the first month.
The first-month routine
- Vitistop Tablets: take 1 tablet after breakfast and 1 tablet after your evening meal. This initial two-tablet phase is intended to provide stronger nutritional support at the beginning of the routine, with the aim of supporting repigmentation and helping the body during an active phase of vitiligo.
- Vitistop Gel: apply a thin layer to the white patches approximately 30 minutes before every 311 nm NB-UVB or controlled-sunlight session.
- Protopic or Opzelura: if prescribed, apply it approximately one hour before sleep. Use a second morning application only if this has been directed by your doctor.
- If you do not use Protopic or Opzelura: apply a thin layer of Vitistop Gel to the white patches at bedtime as part of your evening routine.
- Light treatment: complete three sessions per week during the first two months, always leaving at least 48 hours between sessions.
Important: Protopic and Opzelura are prescription medicines. Use them only in the strength, frequency and treatment areas prescribed by your doctor. Do not apply them immediately before light exposure and do not combine them with Vitistop Gel in the same application.
Example week: Monday to Sunday
Monday
Session 1
Morning
Apply a morning dose of Protopic or Opzelura only if prescribed by your doctor.
Light treatment
Use either a 311 nm NB-UVB lamp or controlled sunlight, but not both during the same session.
For an NB-UVB lamp, begin with the starting time specified in the device instructions or your individual treatment plan.
Evening
Apply prescribed Protopic or Opzelura approximately one hour before sleep. If you are not using either medicine, apply Vitistop Gel at bedtime.
Tuesday
Recovery day
Morning
Light treatment
The aim is mild, painless pinkness called erythema. It may remain visible the following day, showing that the skin received an active light dose.
Evening
Apply the prescribed topical approximately one hour before sleep, or Vitistop Gel if no prescription topical is being used.
Wednesday
Session 2
Morning
Light treatment
If Monday caused no erythema and your NB-UVB device instructions permit time-based adjustment, increase the exposure by 20 seconds.
If the desired mild pinkness occurred, repeat the same exposure time. Treat only after the skin has recovered.
Evening
Continue the prescribed evening topical or apply Vitistop Gel at bedtime if no prescription topical is being used.
Thursday
Recovery day
Morning
Light treatment
Do not treat skin that is strongly red, painful, hot, irritated or not fully recovered.
Evening
Friday
Session 3
Morning
Light treatment
Use the reaction from Wednesday to select the exposure time. Increase NB-UVB exposure by 20 seconds only if no erythema occurred and your device instructions allow this adjustment.
Evening
Apply the prescribed topical approximately one hour before sleep, or use Vitistop Gel at bedtime.
Saturday
Recovery day
Morning
Light treatment
Allow the treated skin to recover completely.
Evening
Sunday
Routine day
Morning
Light treatment
Record the exposure times used during the week. Taking photographs in similar lighting every four weeks can help you recognise gradual progress.
Evening
How to use the skin reaction
A mild pink reaction after light exposure is called erythema. This light response helps stimulate the biological processes involved in pigment formation. The goal is gentle pinkness, not a painful burn.
No pinkness
For a timed NB-UVB lamp, increase the next exposure by 20 seconds if this is permitted by the device instructions.
Gentle pinkness
If the skin is mildly pink and this remains visible the next day without pain or burning, repeat the same exposure time at the next session.
Strong or prolonged redness
Pause treatment until the skin has fully recovered. Reduce the next exposure according to the device instructions or contact a healthcare professional.
The 20-second increase applies to timed NB-UVB treatment only. Sunlight intensity changes according to the season, weather, time of day and UV index, so NB-UVB lamp times must never be copied directly to sunlight exposure.
Weeks 2-4
Repeat the same Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule throughout the first month. Continue taking two Vitistop Tablets daily, applying Vitistop Gel before every light session and following your prescribed topical routine.
Adjust each treated area according to its own response. Record the exposure time for every area and take comparison photographs at the end of week 4.
How the routine changes after the first month
Month 2
Reduce Vitistop Tablets to 1 tablet daily after a meal. Continue light treatment three times weekly, with at least 48 hours between sessions.
Month 3 onward
Continue with 1 Vitistop Tablet daily. Reduce light treatment to twice weekly and continue consistently until the end of the treatment process.
Tablet break
After every three months of tablet use, take a 3-4 week break from Vitistop Tablets before beginning the next cycle.
This schedule is an illustrative adult routine. Prescription treatment, supplement suitability and light exposure should be adapted to the individual, the treated area, skin type, device instructions and medical advice.
Need help building your routine?
Tell us the age of the person being treated, the location of the patches and whether you plan to use an NB-UVB lamp or sunlight.
Contact VitiligoShopThis guide provides general information only and does not replace diagnosis, medical advice or instructions supplied with an NB-UVB device or prescription medicine.