How long does narrowband UVB phototherapy take to work for vitiligo?

The first sign may be small areas of colour returning around hair follicles or at the edges of a pale patch. Facial and neck areas can respond differently from hands, feet, or other sites. Colour may return unevenly, and the treated skin can look different while the process is developing. Your clinician will look at the pattern over time, not judge the result from a single appointment.

Keep each appointment and follow the clinic’s instructions about exposure, moisturiser, and covering unaffected skin. Never add extra home or outdoor ultraviolet exposure to speed the process. Tell your clinician about redness, new medicines, or a change in the patches. Taking occasional photographs in similar lighting can help you and the care team notice gradual colour changes without comparing different lighting conditions.

Report blistering, intense burning, persistent pain, or redness that does not settle as expected. Get urgent help for facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or a severe reaction. Contact your dermatologist if new patches are appearing quickly, existing patches are changing rapidly, or treatment-related eye discomfort develops. If repigmentation is not apparent after the planned review period, ask for an assessment rather than changing the schedule yourself.

Ask which areas are realistic targets, what early repigmentation may look like for you, and when progress will be reviewed. Check how missed appointments are handled, which skin products are suitable, and whether other vitiligo treatments should continue. Ask how the team will protect sensitive areas and monitor irritation during the course.