Vitiligo
Treatment options in Shanghai

Narrowband ultraviolet B, usually abbreviated NB-UVB, is one form of prescribed phototherapy. A light booth can treat larger areas and may be considered when patches are widespread. That does not mean every person with many patches requires it: the clinician also considers skin history, other treatment and the ability to attend repeated sessions. Ask how exposure is adjusted, what areas require protection and what to do after redness or discomfort. Medical phototherapy is controlled treatment; trying to reproduce it through prolonged sun exposure is not an equivalent plan.

Targeted treatment, including a 308 nm excimer approach, directs light at selected patches and limits exposure of unaffected surrounding skin. It may be a practical discussion for a smaller number of localized areas, while treating many scattered patches individually can change the time and cost burden. The choice is not a contest in which a laser is always stronger or better than a booth. Ask which lesions would be treated, how the dermatologist will judge their response and whether topical treatment should be used alongside the light course.

Phototherapy is not the only choice. Depending on the situation, a dermatologist may discuss topical medicines, camouflage or selected procedures; choosing camouflage or no repigmentation treatment is also a valid preference. Active disease and stable patches can lead to different conversations, particularly about surgical approaches. Light treatment can cause redness, irritation or burns, and the team should explain safety precautions and cumulative exposure considerations. Tell the clinician about other medicines and skin conditions. Do not increase exposure yourself to try to accelerate results or copy another patient’s settings.