Whole-body and targeted narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy effectively stabilize acral vitiligo with negligible repigmentation beyond wrists and ankles: Results from a split-body randomized controlled trial.

Background: Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy promotes stability and repigmentation in vitiligo. No studies have compared targeted NB-UVB with whole-body NB-UVB in treatment of acral vitiligo.

Objectives: This randomized split-body study compared whole-body NB-UVB with targeted NB-UVB in inducing stability and repigmentation in acral vitiligo.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with bilaterally symmetrical acral vitiligo lesions (distal to elbows and knees) were recruited. Patients received whole-body NB-UVB treatment, with one hand and one foot shielded until elbow and knee, followed by targeted NB-UVB treatment on the shielded side. Patients were assessed at 4-week intervals for 24 weeks using Vitiligo Disease Activity (VIDA) score, Vitiligo Skin Activity Score (VSAS), Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (determined through fingertip method, using the method to calculate facial-VASI) and degree of repigmentation.

Results: After 12 weeks, 87.5% of patients achieved a VIDA score of 3, with none having active disease at 24 weeks. Over 50% repigmentation was observed in 42.2% and 37.5% of limbs in whole-body and targeted groups, respectively (p = .95). No improvement in F-VASI scores of hands and feet (distal to wrist and ankles) was noted with either modality over the 24-week period.

Conclusion: Our study showed comparable repigmentation rates between whole-body and targeted NB-UVB groups. Limited effectiveness of phototherapy in repigmentation of hands and feet underscores an important therapeutic gap.