key: cord-0692681-5nlq1o8d authors: Myers, Elisha; Kheradmand, Shiva; Miller, Richard title: An Update on Narrowband Ultraviolet B Therapy for the Treatment of Skin Diseases date: 2021-11-01 journal: Cureus DOI: 10.7759/cureus.19182 sha: 0d0a72ab70b4851d4c2a4210f0dc9c5c811e8cfa doc_id: 692681 cord_uid: 5nlq1o8d The objective of this review is to provide an update on narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) as a treatment for various skin conditions. NB-UVB works by suppressing the cutaneous cell-mediated immune response and has been shown to be an efficacious and clinically tolerable treatment for a range of inflammatory dermatoses. A literature search was conducted by advanced searches of PubMed for NB-UVB treatment of dermatologic skin diseases with a focus on reports from 2010 to 2021, including both office-based and home-based phototherapy (HBPT). Data were prioritized based on studies with a high level of evidence using the Oxford Evidence-Based Medicine guidance. We found that NB-UVB continues to serve as an effective form of therapy for several cutaneous conditions, including vitiligo, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, mycosis fungoides, and other inflammatory dermatoses. The recent introduction of Janus kinase inhibitors in combination with NB-UVB suggests future promise in the treatment of vitiligo. Despite its rise in popularity, a decline was seen in office-based NB-UVB treatment during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Options are available to deliver NB-UVB at home with comparable efficacy to office-based treatments. In conclusion, for a select group of patients and conditions, NB-UVB continues to serve as an effective treatment modality with minimal side effects, with HBPT serving as an option to improve patient compliance. The use of ultraviolet (UV) light as a treatment for skin disease was initially studied in 1903 by Dr. Niels Finsen, and later in 1925 by Goeckerman. UV phototherapy uses a selective range of UV light, which can be categorized into ultraviolet A (UVA), psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA), and ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation ranges. The UVB category of phototherapy includes broadband UVB (BB-UVB) at 280-320 nm and narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) at 311-313 nm. In comparison to previously mentioned UV phototherapy, NB-UVB has been shown to be more clinically tolerable with fewer side effects [1, 2] . The exact pathophysiology of NB-UVB is multifactorial and complex [3] . In the treatment of inflammatory dermatoses, NB-UVB leads to a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines, a decrease in antigen presentation through inhibition of Langerhans cell activity, and a cascade of biological events which result in suppression of the cutaneous Tcell-mediated immune system. Over the past several years, NB-UVB has proven to be an effective treatment option for conditions such as vitiligo, psoriasis, mycosis fungoides, atopic dermatitis, pruritus, photodermatoses, and other skin conditions. It can be used as monotherapy or in combination with topical or systemic agents. Despite its rise in popularity, in the era of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, there was an initial decline in officebased NB-UVB treatments due to concerns of increased viral exposure [4] . Recent reports demonstrate that home-based phototherapy (HBPT) can serve as an option for a select group of patients, with efficacy comparable to office-based phototherapy. HBPT can be delivered in the form of booths and hand or foot unit devices with timers to prevent overexposure to UV light. HBPT has been shown to increase treatment compliance and may serve as a more cost-effective utilization of healthcare resources [5, 6] . NB-UVB is considered a first-line treatment for patients with vitiligo. Areas affecting the face, neck, trunk, and proximal extremities are generally more responsive to NB-UVB compared to the distal extremities. Although the mechanism behind repigmentation with NB-UVB is not fully understood, it is believed to be caused by a decrease in inflammatory cytokines followed by a stimulation of melanocytes within the hair follicle [7] . In the treatment of vitiligo, NB-UVB has no significant difference in efficacy compared to PUVA or 308 nm-excimer laser [8] . A recent retrospective review of 58 patients who received NB-UVB therapy showed persistent skin repigmentation in 80% of patients one year after treatment in those predominantly suffering from non-segmental vitiligo [9] . A retrospective cohort of 109 patients compared twice-weekly NB-UVB therapy to a more intensified thriceweekly treatment of NB-UVB therapy along with topical fluticasone propionate and/or tacrolimus [10] . Results showed both treatment groups demonstrated similar results, with a faster onset of repigmentation seen in the combination group. Recently, a randomized controlled trial of 517 patients found that combination therapy with NB-UVB therapy (hand-held unit) and mometasone was more effective than corticosteroid use alone. Response rates were seen in one-fourth of patients with better response to vitiliginous lesions on the head and neck [11] . Further, three recent systemic reviews showed topical tacrolimus and NB-UVB combination to be superior to NB-UVB alone [12] [13] [14] . Another meta-analysis demonstrated no significant difference between NB-UVB monotherapy versus combination NB-UVB with calcineurin inhibitors [15] . In a recent study, treatment with Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in combination with NB-UVB for vitiligo showed promising results. A retrospective case series of 10 patients found that low-dose NB-UVB (officebased and HBPT) or sun exposure was required in conjunction with oral tofacitinib to achieve repigmentation. The five patients who achieved repigmentation with oral tofacitinib all had exposure to either low-dose NB-UVB or sunlight [16] . Another case series of two patients showed greater than 75% repigmentation of the face with oral tofacitinib and NB-UVB [15] . A recent case report of a four-year-old boy showed complete repigmentation of segmental vitiligo using tofacitinib cream and handheld NB-UVB. Similarly, a pilot study of 11 vitiligo patients demonstrated a mean improvement of 70% in facial vitiligo after treatment with NB-UVB in combination with tofacitinib cream [17, 18] . The Vitiligo Working Group's recent recommendations were summarized by Kim et al. and can be helpful for clinicians to refer to as a guide for frequency, dosing, safety monitoring, and tapering of NB-UVB [17] . The use of HBPT for vitiligo is considered experimental by most insurance companies, yet it has shown efficacy in several clinical trials. A pilot randomized controlled study of 100 patients found HBPT to be as effective as in-patient phototherapy [19] . A significant cost reduction was also seen for patients. Importantly, adverse effects seen in treatment were more common with HBPT, indicating a need for further education in patients using HBPT. A similar cross-sectional study with a smaller sample of 18 vitiligo patients found similar results, with comparable levels of pigmentation improvement seen in HBPT compared to in-patient phototherapy [20] . Both studies noted a slight increase in side effects and the more costeffective nature of HBPT. For the treatment of psoriasis, NB-UV decreases the production of inflammatory cytokines and T-cells in the Th1 pathway and reduces keratinocyte proliferation [21] . NB-UVB-induced increase in serum vitamin D levels in patients with low serum vitamin D with psoriasis or AD has also been studied. The correlation between serum vitamin D levels to the severity of psoriasis and AD remains controversial [22] [23] [24] . NB-UVB is considered a first-line treatment for stable, moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis affecting greater than 10% of body surface area in children and adults, with efficacy comparable to PUVA phototherapy. PUVA has been shown to be more effective for the treatment of palmoplantar pustular psoriasis and refractory plaque psoriasis, and xenon monochloride (XeCl) excimer laser is utilized for recalcitrant localized psoriasis affecting less than 10% of the body surface area [25, 26] . For palmoplantar psoriasis, a study of 66 patients comparing the use of NB-UVB to UVA1 found that both treatment methods led to a statistically significant reduction in psoriatic lesions. In the same study, 68.8% of patients in the UVA1 treatment group showed marked improvement in comparison to 34.4% in the NB-UVB phototherapy group [27] . Randomized controlled trials have shown combination therapy of NB-UVB with methotrexate leads to higher percentage clearance with a lower recurrence rate when compared to methotrexate alone [28] . NB-UVB is considered first-line therapy for early-stage mycosis fungoides, with no significant difference compared to PUVA phototherapy in the treatment of early-stage disease [29] [30] [31] [32] . Studies have demonstrated variable median relapse-free intervals with NB-UVB [33] . Moreover, recent data suggest that NB-UVB has the potential to serve as a disease-modifying therapy with long-term disease-free survival. A cohort study of 117 patients with stage I mycosis fungoides treated with a single course of NB-UVB showed an 80% complete response rate and a 60% disease-free survival of more than five years after treatment. Patients more likely to achieve this outcome were under the age of 50 and had stage IA disease [34] . The use of phototherapy in AD works by the suppression of Th2 immune response, improvement of the skin barrier, and decrease in skin infections [35] . Current guidelines for the treatment of AD recommend NB-UVB as second-line therapy for children and adults with acute or chronic AD not responsive to topical corticosteroids or immunomodulators. Three retrospective studies showed a greater than 60% reduction in the severity of AD in children [36] [37] [38] . Further, in one review, clearance of AD was maintained among more than 50% of patients after 12 months [38] , in contrast to 66% who relapsed after three months in another review [37] . Systematic reviews continue to support NB-UVB as an effective form of phototherapy in the treatment of AD when compared to other light-based treatments [39, 40] . NB-UVB is a treatment modality commonly used for pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) [41] , a relatively uncommon chronic inflammatory papular disease, which is more severe than pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC). A systematic review regarding the use of phototherapy in the treatment of pediatric patients with PLEVA showed 73% lesion clearance with NB-UVB and no recurrence. In the same study, PUVA and BB-UVB showed a higher percentage of lesion clearance; however, both groups showed higher rates of recurrence [42] . Recently, a study of 29 patients with a diagnosis of PLC found complete response in 24 patients with NB-UVB treatment without relapse [43] . Generalized granuloma annulare (GA) is more responsive to NB-UVB compared to other subtypes of GA. Furthermore, it is well tolerated in patients suffering from this condition. Two retrospective studies of patients with generalized GA showed at least 50% clinical improvement in more than half of the patients when treated with NB-UVB [44] . The cause of pruritus varies considerably. One way NB-UVB reduces the symptoms of pruritus is by decreasing the inflammatory cytokine, IL-31, involved in the itch pathway. Recent reviews support the use of NB-UVB in reducing pruritus for patients with uremic pruritus secondary to chronic kidney disease, cholestasis-induced pruritus, prurigo nodularis, HIV-induced pruritus, and other inflammatory dermatoses that cause chronic pruritus [45] . Patients affected by photodermatoses such as solar urticaria and polymorphous light eruption (PMLE) can successfully respond to NB-UVB as a form of photoadaptation, demonstrating relapse in eruptive episodes. When treating these conditions, worsening of photodermatoses can occur which can be managed by topical corticosteroid and dose increment reduction [46] . A recent study of 39 patients with solar urticaria supported NB-UVB as an effective treatment for this condition, with patients experiencing a decline in recurrent episodes [47] . Similarly, two recent studies showed a significant reduction of PMLE episodes in patients undergoing NB-UVB therapy [48] . Phototherapy can be considered a treatment modality for patients with generalized lichen planus (LP). A randomized clinical trial of 46 patients comparing systemic corticosteroids to NB-UVB therapy found NB-UVB to be a significantly more effective treatment for generalized LP [49] . Another study involving 24 patients with generalized LP had two-thirds of their patients achieve partial or complete remission with NB-UVB therapy, while 33% did not respond to treatment [50] . For NB-UVB treatment of recalcitrant pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP), patients should undergo photoprovocation prior to therapy as there have been reports of photoaggravated PRP [51] . Data are limited regarding NB-UVB treatment of PRP and mainly in the form of case reports. A case report showed that a combination of acitretin in NB-UVB with oral acitretin led to near-clearance of PRP [52] . Another case report showed complete resolution after four months of NB-UVB for a case of PRP recalcitrant to oral isotretinoin [49] . Recently, another case report demonstrated 90% improvement after 19 sessions of NB-UVB in an eight-year-old with a generalized eruption of PRP [53, 54] . Very limited data exist for the treatment of NB-UVB therapy for acne. It has been suggested that UVB directly inhibits Cutibacterium acnes and affects the products of inflammatory cytokines. A case report by Zeichner et al. showed improvement in inflammatory papules and pustules in a pregnant patient after two months of NB-UVB therapy [55] . A recent study of 104 patients demonstrated that oral azithromycin in combination with NB-UVB led to improvement of inflammatory papules when compared to oral azithromycin alone [56] . Limitations of this review include the wide breadth of information covered; therefore, not all reviews which supported information included in this paper were analyzed in this study. In addition, the review was limited to articles written or translated to English. Variability in treatment outcomes with NB-UVB can result from variation in dose delivery, the number of treatments, and subjectivity in minimal erythema dose testing in correlation with appropriate Fitzpatrick skin types. This review serves as a reminder to clinicians that NB-UVB is generally well-tolerated with few side effects and remains an effective treatment for different skin conditions in pediatric, adult, pregnant, and geriatric patient populations. NB-UVB continues to be efficacious in treating patients with vitiligo, psoriasis, mycosis fungoides, AD, photodermatoses, pruritus, generalized LP, generalized GA, PLEVA, and PLC. Recent studies show future promise in combination NB-UVB with topical JAK inhibitors for patients with vitiligo. In comparison to PUVA, NB-UVB has not been shown to induce carcinogenesis. While office-based phototherapy serves as the main treatment for delivery of NB-UVB, home-based treatments can be considered as an efficacious option based on the evaluation of each patient's unique situation. Numerous large studies have shown support for HBPT in the treatment of vitiligo. However, this option can be considered for all photoresponsive skin conditions. HBPT is not without its challenges which include patient training and education and insurance barriers. Additionally, future long-term studies in the form of large randomized controlled trials would solve any concerns about the safety of HBPT. In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. Systemic PUVA vs. narrowband UVB in the treatment of vitiligo: a randomized controlled study Efficacy of psoralen UV-A therapy vs. narrowband UV-B therapy in chronic plaque psoriasis: a systematic literature review COVID-19 effect on phototherapy treatment utilization in dermatology Home phototherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic Home phototherapy for patients with vitiligo: challenges and solutions Randomized double-blind trial of treatment of vitiligo: efficacy of psoralen-UV-A therapy vs narrowband-UV-B therapy Treatment of vitiligo with NB-UVB: a systematic review Treatment outcome and persistence of repigmentation from narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy in vitiligo Patient reported outcomes for intensified versus conventional NB-UVB treatment in non-segmental vitiligo Randomized controlled trial of topical corticosteroid and homebased narrowband ultraviolet B for active and limited vitiligo: results of the HI-Light Vitiligo Trial The efficacy and safety of tacrolimus as mono-and adjunctive therapy for vitiligo: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials Treatment outcomes of topical calcineurin inhibitor therapy for patients with vitiligo: a systematic review and meta-analysis Efficacy of combination therapy of narrowband-ultraviolet B phototherapy or excimer laser with topical tacrolimus for vitiligo: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis Effect of narrow band ultraviolet B phototherapy as monotherapy or combination therapy for vitiligo: a meta-analysis Repigmentation in vitiligo using the Janus kinase inhibitor tofacitinib may require concomitant light exposure Rapid repigmentation of vitiligo using tofacitinib plus low-dose, narrowband UV-B phototherapy A pilot study of 2% tofacitinib cream with narrowband ultraviolet B for the treatment of facial vitiligo Home vs hospital narrowband UVB treatment by a hand-held unit for new-onset vitiligo: a pilot randomized controlled study A cross-sectional, comparative study of home vs in-office NB-UVB phototherapy for vitiligo NB-UVB irradiation attenuates inflammatory response in psoriasis Administration of oral vitamin D induces cathelicidin production in atopic individuals Vitamin D status and efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D increases with NB-UVB and UVA/UVB phototherapy in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in Western Australia Advances in phototherapy for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis A clinical review of phototherapy for psoriasis UVA1 vs. narrowband UVB phototherapy in the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis: a pilot randomized controlled study Comparative study of the effect of narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy plus methotrexate vs. narrowband ultraviolet B alone and methotrexate alone in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis Phototherapy for mycosis fungoides Combined therapy of psoralen plus ultraviolet A followed by narrow band ultraviolet B photochemotherapy for early stage mycosis fungoides A retrospective, descriptive study of patients with mycosis fungoides treated by phototherapy (oral PUVA, NB-UVB) with a twice-weekly regimen at the Institute of Dermatology Recommendations for treatment in folliculotropic mycosis fungoides: report of the Dutch Cutaneous Lymphoma Group Narrowband UVB and PUVA in the treatment of mycosis fungoides: a retrospective study Potential of narrow-band ultraviolet B to induce sustained durable complete remission off-therapy in patients with stage I mycosis fungoides Reversal of atopic dermatitis with narrow-band UVB phototherapy and biomarkers for therapeutic response A retrospective review of phototherapy in children, at a tertiary paediatric dermatology unit Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy in children with moderate-to-severe eczema: a comparative cohort study Use of phototherapy in children Photo(chemo)therapy in the management of atopic dermatitis: an updated systematic review with implications for practice and research Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 3. Management and treatment with phototherapy and systemic agents Comparison of the therapeutic effects of narrow band UVB vs. PUVA in patients with pityriasis lichenoides Phototherapy for pityriasis lichenoides in the pediatric population: a review of the published literature The efficacy of PUVA and narrowband UVB phototherapy in the management of generalised granuloma annulare Phototherapy for itch Phototherapy and photochemotherapy for polymorphic light eruption desensitization: a five-year case series review from a university teaching hospital Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy is a suitable treatment option for solar urticaria Successful short desensitization treatment protocol with narrowband UVB phototherapy (TL-01) in polymorphic light eruption Comparison of the narrow band UVB versus systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of lichen planus: A randomized clinical trial Narrow band ultraviolet B for the treatment of generalized lichen planus Phototesting and phototherapy in pityriasis rubra pilaris Pityriasis rubra pilaris treated with acitretin and narrow-band ultraviolet B (Re-TL-01) Pityriasis rubra pilaris sensitive to narrow band-ultraviolet B light therapy Pityriasis rubra pilaris mixed type III/IV successfully treated with narrow band-ultraviolet B Narrowband UV-B phototherapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris during pregnancy Adjuvant narrow band UVB improves the efficacy of oral azithromycin for the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory facial acne vulgaris