Home phototherapy, with its unique convenience and effectiveness, has gradually emerged in the color treatment of vitiligo and won the favor of many patients. However, for patients trying home light therapy for the first time, how to operate has become a problem to be solved.

First, select the initial dose

In the actual course of treatment, the initial radiation dose is closely related to the course and stage of the patient's disease. For patients in the advanced stage, it is recommended to consult a doctor before receiving NB-UVB home light therapy to develop a personalized light therapy program. Because the progressive stage is a critical stage in the development of the disease, inappropriate light doses can trigger skin burns, which in turn can lead to the spread of white spots, negatively affecting treatment. Therefore, patients need to carefully set the initial therapeutic dose and escalation plan under the guidance of doctors to ensure the effectiveness and safety of treatment. When patients in a stable stage undergo the first NB-UVB home phototherapy, 200mJ/cm² can be uniformly used as the initial irradiation dose [1]. It should be noted that the skin of young children and children with vitiligo is relatively thin and tender, and the initial radiation dose should be lower than that of adults. It is recommended that the initial radiation dose of young children and children with vitiligo start from 100mJ/cm². Adolescents over 14 years of age may receive adult doses. 

Second, set the initial dose of the phototherapy device

At present, the common home phototherapy devices on the market are divided into two types: dose mode and time mode. Depending on the mode of operation, the steps required to set the initial exposure dose vary.

1. Dose-mode home phototherapy device When using dose-mode home phototherapy device, patients should pay special attention to the dose unit on the display window. The common dose unit of the phototherapy device is J/cm². Therefore, patients need to perform a simple unit conversion before phototherapy, that is, 1000mJ/cm²=1J/cm². Assuming that the patient's initial irradiation dose is 200mJ/cm², then the patient needs to set the dose on the phototherapy device: 200mJ/cm²=0.2J/cm²

After confirming the dose, the patient only needs to press the Add/Subtract button to complete the dose setting and start a new phototherapy course.

2. Time mode home phototherapy device When using time mode home phototherapy device, it is necessary to convert the time required for irradiation according to the formula before treatment. The conversion formula is as follows: Irradiation time (S) = irradiation dose (mJ/cm²) ÷ irradiation intensity (mW/cm²)Example: The patient is using a benchtop phototherapy instrument with an intensity of 60mW/cm² and an initial irradiation dose of 200mJ/cm². Then the patient's initial phototherapy exposure time is 3 seconds.Irradiation time (seconds) =200(mJ/cm²) ÷60 (mW/cm²)≈3 seconds After confirming the dose, the patient only needs to press the Add/Subtract button to complete the dose setting and start a new phototherapy course.