China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Targeted Phototherapy
Published in Vineet Relhan, Vijay Kumar Garg, Sneha Ghunawat, Khushbu Mahajan, Comprehensive Textbook on Vitiligo, 2020
Soon after the advance of excimer laser, a second device emitting radiation at a similar wavelength was introduced and tested. The excimer lamp is a device emitting polychromatic or, expressed more precisely, quasi-monochromatic light, since it actually emits radiation at a range of 306–310 nm wavelength with a peak at 308 nm that constitutes the majority of light emitted. It is also incoherent and nondirectional. Thus there are in fact inherent differences between the two MEL devices, the excimer laser and lamp, which can differentiate the treatment offered, as will be discussed further down [6].
Phototherapy and lasers in the treatment of vitiligo
Published in Electra Nicolaidou, Clio Dessinioti, Andreas D. Katsambas, Hypopigmentation, 2019
Monochromatic excimer light (MEL) is a xenon chloride (XeCl) device, which emits a single 308-nm wavelength either as a lamp or laser. MEL has shown therapeutic success in the treatment of various skin conditions such as vitiligo, psoriasis, and mycosis fungoides. Various excimer lamp and laser devices are commercially available. The photobiologic effects of MEL are similar to those of 311–313 nm. They include greater T-cell apoptosis and melanin production from perifollicular dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)-depleted amelanotic melanocytes than traditional NB-UVB.28,29 Treatment regimens studied included excimer laser two to three times weekly for up to 36 weeks. Patients commonly achieved >75% repigmentation.30 Differences between excimer lamp and laser include lower cost of excimer lamp, different hand pieces with various spot sizes for excimer lamp compared to a fixed spot size of excimer laser, and more expensive maintenance costs for excimer laser. No significant difference in the effectiveness of excimer laser and lamp have been found.29,31
Phototherapy and photochemotherapy
Published in M. Alan Menter, Caitriona Ryan, Psoriasis, 2017
Farhaad R. Riyaz, Henry W. Lim
An incoherent 308-nm lamp, known as the excimer lamp, is also available. Incoherent light sources have lower costs than laser sources and can treat larger areas more easily. A study of 31 patients showed improvements that were not statistically different between those treated with excimer laser and those treated with excimer lamp.91
Meta-analysis of 308-nm excimer laser therapy for alopecia areata
Published in Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2021
In addition to lasers, the 308-nm excimer lamp was also investigated for AA treatment. The excimer lamp is similar to the excimer laser device differing in that the lamp emits incoherent light and may require a longer duration but like the laser maintains the ability to target specific lesions. In practice, the 308-nm excimer lamp and laser have demonstrated similar efficacy in treating other autoimmune diseases such as vitiligo (18) and psoriasis (19). Therefore, four uncontrolled trials/case studies tested 308-nm light for efficacy (20–23). All studies recommended the use of 308-nm light therapy for AA, including recalcitrant AA and AU. In a trial of 11 patients with resistant AU, four were considered to have a good response (20). Regrowth did not correlate with disease duration or history of atopic dermatitis. In a second trial, three out of eight patients observed regrowth, including one case of AU and two AA (21). In a third trial, 14 out of 16 patients had regrowth with 10 being more than 50% (23). In a case series of three patients with AA resistant to conventional treatment, all resulted in clinical improvement (22). Adverse events included erythema, hyperpigmentation and mild itching.
Association of khellin and 308-nm excimer lamp in the treatment of severe alopecia areata in a child
Published in Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2018
Samy Fenniche, Houda Hammami, Anissa Zaouak
A 5-year-old boy, with no previous pathological history, presented on March 2016 with an ophiasic AA, which had been developing progressively for 1 year. On physical examination, a large plaque of alopecia was found in all the occipital areas of the scalp (Figure 1) with some sparse hair and progressing to both parietal regions. Another hair loss plaque of 4 × 6 cm of diameter was found in the frontal area (Figure 2). The routine laboratory parameters including thyroid tests were normal. Previous treatments prescribed were ineffective: topical corticosteroids, cryotherapy, tacrolimus, oral antioxidant, and minoxidil. After a complete informed parental consent, the patient was treated with topical khellin (Vitises KT lotion, Sesderma, Spain) applied on all alopecia areas 45 min before excimer irradiation. The treatment was given twice a week for 3 months. The ultraviolet B (UVB) light was delivered with a 308-nm excimer lamp (EL) (Excilite μ, Deka Medical Lasers, Italy). As new treatment protocol, we voluntarily choose to start at 50 mJ/cm2 twice a week, a lower dose compared to previous treatment dose regimen. If no side effects occurred, the dose was increased by 50 mJ every two sessions. The patient was closely followed up and evaluation was made at 1, 2, and 3 months. At the end of the treatment, a complete regrowth of hair was observed in the large extensive occipital area (Figure 3) and the frontal area (Figure 4). No significant adverse events were noted during the protocol except a mild transient erythema observed after the fourth session. One year after the last session, no recurrence was noted.
308nm excimer lamp monotherapy for lip vitiligo-a short case series
Published in Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2020
Targeted 308-nm excimer monotherapy is an alternative therapy that actively controls the disease progression and also induces repigmentation in a short duration (12). Excimer lamp has the advantage of delivering high-intensity radiation to the diseased skin, thus reducing the exposure of normal skin to radiation side effects (21). Further research with larger patient population stratified by skin type is suggested to more critically evaluate the importance of this observation in achieving repigmentation.