A relatively new treatment being adopted by many doctors is the 308nm excimer laser; there are several makers, but they all emit the same kind of coherent light. These treatments are seeing a lot of success with vitiligo patients in particular. As with all other medically accepted therapies for such conditions, this is yet another treatment option. It is not a cure, nor is it necessarily the best treatment option for your condition; just another option that will work for some and do little for others. 

The 308nm excimer laser is essentially the same sort of device as the lasers used for treating varicose veins, for removing tattoos and hair removal except these emit a much higher frequency light. Treatments must be administered by trained therapists with a handheld ‘gun’. Eye protection and sheilding is a must for both the patient and the operator for the duration of all treatments.

With UVBioTek nbUVB treatments, a therapist usually operates the system for the patient, but there is none of the "hands-on" treatment required when using the excimer laser. The patient simply disrobes and stands within the light for a few minutes every few days. Eye protection is usually only required of the patient.

The treatment process is roughly the same as with hair & tattoo removal. The laser blasts an area of skin about the size of a quarter, depositing a large amount of energy (millijoules) into the skin. Affected areas are treated one quarter-sized spot at a time, usually overlapping them to make sure the entire area is treated.

The laser emission (blast, zap, flash, take your pick) can definitely be felt; it is described as anywhere from barely perceptible (usually by laser manufacturers) to having a rubber band snapped against the skin (often by therapists) to something akin to getting a tattoo (by many patients). Some laser systems even puff some coolant onto the skin just before the light hits to numb the sensation. Since pain can only be measured by the individual, you have to assume that it’s going to feel somewhere in between the extremes, but you also have to assume that you will be feeling it.

UVBioTek narrowband UVB systems are completely pain-free as long as they are used properly; in this case, "properly" really just means "without burning the skin". UVBioTek treatments feel just like standing close to bright flourescent lights for a few minutes every other day (ideally). It is not hot; most people don’t even work up a sweat. The whole body is treated at once.

A round of treatments usually consist of 10 laser sessions covering the entire affected areas, after which patients are told to expect to remain clear anywhere from 4 to 10 months. How long someone remains "clear" is also a relative concept; it really means how long most patients are willing to put up with the progession of their condition before deciding it’s time to pay for and put up with more laser treatments. On average, most people seem to end up needing a round of treatments about once a year… each and every year.

The amount of time required for a patient to get clear in a UVBioTek phototherapy system depends on the severity of their condition, the frequency of the treatments, and the patient’s opinion of what "clear" is. Most patients get 2-3 sessions per week, and it usually takes a few months to start clearing. Once clear, patients usually need two to four sessions per month to maintain it.

While it generally takes less time to get clear using a laser than with a full-body nbUVB system, treatments will be required in perpetuity. Laser treatments are generally more costly than traditional nbUVB sessions. This is primarily because of the amount of time a technician is needed per patient, but also because the equipment itself is much more expensive. For these reasons, there are no home excimer lasers.

Since conditions like psoriasis and vitiligo are chronic and treatments will be needed for the life of the patient, the most cost-effective way to get clear and stay that way is by using a home nbUVB system. Instead of paying for laser treatments each and every year, a UVBioTek home system is a one-time purchase that generally provides effective treatments for the life of the patient.

Most will agree that it’s a lot easier to use their home system for a few minutes every other morning just before hopping in the shower than it is to get up, get dressed, get to the doctor’s office, wait to be called, get undressed, wait for the technician to get started, wait for them to get finished, get dressed again, pay for the privilege, and then drive on your way. When you consider the cost of all the copayments, the time spent, the cost of transportation, and the hassle of it all, the cost and convenience of a home UVBioTek system is worth its weight in gold.

Fortunately, they aren’t nearly that expensive.

Be aware that it is okay to be persistent with your doctor. Many are simply unaware of phototherapy. Others are downright opposed to it out of misconceptions and misunderstandings. Narrowband phototherapy is non-invasive, doesn’t require additional medications, has virtually no side-effects, is effective for roughly 80% of all patients with nbUVB-treatable conditions, and has an impressive safety record; after almost a century of medically therapeutic phototherapy usage, no link has ever been established between proper use and an increase in the risk for skin cancer. 

Whichever therapy you and your doctor decide is best for you, the sooner you can start, the sooner you will get clear. A home UVBioTek system of your own will cost less than just a few rounds of laser treatments, and probably a lot less than you think. Give us a call at 800-UVBIOTEK (800-882-4683) and find out how we can help you deal with your life-long condition… for life.