Topical Band-pass Filter Cream (TBFC)-assisted home-based NB-UVB: A must-know Alternative to artificial phototherapy

Treatment-refractory lesions of vitiligo and psoriasis are typically associated with significant psychological morbidity. Although narrowband-ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy remains one of the safest and effective treatment modalities, the cost and logistics related to the access and high cost of therapy delivered artificially via devices/chambers become highly restrictive. The use of topical Photocil®, a novel topical band-pass filter cream (TBFC), that selectively filters solar radiation, biasing toward delivery of 311-313 nm (action spectrum of NB-UVB) to the treated lesions, following the exposure of TBFC-smeared lesions to natural sunlight offsets many aforementioned limitations of artificial phototherapy. The non-inferior efficacy of Photocil® as an alternative to artificial NB-UVB has recently been reported in patients with lighter skin phototypes (SPT) with non-segmental vitiligo and psoriasis.

To demonstrate the high efficacy-cum-safety of the novel approach in repigmenting treatment-refractory segmental vitiligo (SV) in an adult man with SPT-V and discuss the essentials of successful administration of NB-UVB using this approach.

The baseline clinical details and therapeutic outcome of 12-week protocol of TBFC-assisted NB-UVB (with details of step-by-step administration including precautions) in SV of the aforementioned patient are discussed.

Up to 75% repigmentation without any remarkable adverse effects was noted with persistent efficacy over the next 12 weeks.

The device-free home-based TBFC-assisted NB-UVB delivery using natural sunlight offers a viable, convenient, and cost-effective alternative to artificial phototherapy for successful treatment of vitiligo; with its utility proven even in SV that too in individual(s) with darker SPT.