The Efficacy of Hand Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B (NBUVB) Versus Excilite Treatment in Vitiligo After Minigrafting on the Dorsal Hands

Prospective investigator-blinded study involving 13 adult male and female subjects with vitiligo on the backs of both hands. Punch minigrafting will be performed on both hands taking skin from the thighs and/or buttocks. Light treatments will be administered starting at week one after grafting. One hand will receive narrow-band ultraviolet B light and the other will receive focal 308-nm light treatments. Light treatments will be administered 3 times per week for 12 weeks. A long term follow-up visit will be completed at week 25. The investigator will evaluate the subjects at week 4, 7, 13 and 25 in addition to screening and baseline evaluations/procedures.

Inclusion criteria

• male and female subjects 18 years of age or older
• skin type III-VI
• vitiligo on both dorsal hands
• history of stable vitiligo ( no new lesions and no more than 10% enlargement of existing lesions) for six months with an absence of Kebner phenomenon (new lesions appearing after trauma to the skin)
• refractory to topical steroids and immunomodulators

Exclusion criteria

• pregnant and/or breast-feeding females
• history of skin cancer
• history of taking photosensitizing medications
• history of recent phototherapy (light therapy) or topical medications within one month prior to enrollment
• history of organ transplantation
• history of failed vitiligo skin transplantation
• history of segmental vitiligo
• history of 12 or more continuous light treatments