Full Answer
What is excimer laser for vitiligo?
Excimer Laser for Vitiligo. Excimer laser is a form of targeted phototherapy that aims a high intensity ultraviolet B (UVB) light dose of a very specific wavelength (308 nanometers) directly at the areas of vitiligo through a hand-piece applied to the skin.
Is excimer laser treatment safe for white patches on face?
Laser treatments are said to be generally painless and safe. This treatment procedure is chosen for treating white patches on the face and around the neck. The person receiving the excimer laser treatment has to be exposed to trial laser sources to determine whether the light source is effective.
How long does it take to get rid of vitiligo?
The complete cure, or full treatment, is accomplished only after 20-30 reps. This long duration has to be carried out until the end, without skips or breaks. The treatment time for every laser exposure is just a few minutes. This treatment has been considered the most effective measure for getting rid of vitiligo.
What are the side effects of excimer laser?
Significant side effects of excimer laser are uncommon. Laser therapy is generally safe, but some people have reported side effects after treatment, including temporary redness, itching, burning, stinging, blistering, darkening/lightening of the skin, and scarring.
Is laser treatment effective for vitiligo?
The available studies provide strong evidence that the excimer laser represents the most effective approach to treat vitiligo compared to ordinary phototherapy. Excimer laser is relatively safe and effective for localized disease. UV-sensitive areas respond best as well as a short duration of the disease.
Does Medicare cover treatment for vitiligo?
Narrow band phototherapy is fully covered in the United States by Medicare with no additional costs to the patient, plus a Medicare rebate applies to a percentage of the consultation cost. Most of private health insurance companies initially reject claims for reimbursement.
What laser is used for vitiligo?
The 308-nm xenon chloride excimer laser is the most widely used laser for vitiligo, and is currently considered the treatment of choice for localized vitiligo.
How expensive is treatment for vitiligo?
Frequently Asked Questions About Vitiligo The price of the procedure depends on the size of the area that is being treated. For an area of less than 25 square centimeters the cost is $ 3,500.00. For an area 25-100 square centimeters in size the cost is $4,000.00.
Is excimer laser covered by insurance?
Excimer laser therapy is considered cosmetic and not medically necessary for the treatment of alopecia areata in any setting. Services that are cosmetic are not covered under most benefit plans.
Is laser skin treatment covered by insurance?
Yes. Health insurance plans in India cover most dermatology or skin problems. If you own a health insurance policy, you can raise a claim to cover your treatment costs for dermatology problems. Skin cancer treatment can be covered under a critical illness insurance policy as well as under a cancer insurance policy.
What is the fastest way to cure vitiligo?
For vitiligo that's spreading quickly, a course of steroid pills can help stop it. Phototherapy (light therapy) with narrowband UVB is the best option for people who don't see an improvement with creams or who can't use creams because they have too much vitiligo. Here are some of the best treatments for vitiligo.
How long does laser treatment vitiligo last?
Light treatment Works best on the face; least effective on hands and feet. Effective for many patients; about 70% see results with an excimer laser. Results can disappear. About half, 44%, see results disappear within 1 year of stopping treatment.
Does Ginkgo Biloba help vitiligo?
Ginkgo Biloba seems to be a simple, safe, inexpensive and fairly effective therapy for vitiligo. It is mostly effective in halting the progression of the disease. It can also speed up repigmentation process in some patients.
How does excimer laser work for vitiligo?
The excimer laser is a highly focused beam of UVB light. Dermatologists focus the laser directly on the lightened areas of skin using a wand-like device. The UVB light may stimulate repigmentation in the skin, restoring color to white patches.
Is turmeric good for vitiligo?
One of the effective home remedies for vitiligo is the use of turmeric and mustard oil. Turmeric is known to have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It helps in increasing the immune system of body and infection from bacteria. All you need to do is take turmeric powder (5 teaspoons) and mustard oil (250 ml).
How can I permanently cure vitiligo?
How is vitiligo treated? There is no cure for vitiligo. The goal of medical treatment is to create a uniform skin tone by either restoring color (repigmentation) or eliminating the remaining color (depigmentation). Common treatments include camouflage therapy, repigmentation therapy, light therapy and surgery.
Can Excimer Laser Cause Cancer?
Exposure to UVB rays can cause sunburns and skin cancer. Fortunately, excimer laser treatment does not increase the risk for skin cancer because it...
Does the Excimer Laser Work for Vitiligo?
Yes, excimer laser is a very effective tool for treating vitiligo. In fact, patients with vitiligo experience exceptional results in just a few mon...
How Does the Excimer Laser Work for Vitiligo?
Using a wand-like device, a dermatologist aims a highly-focused beam of UVB light onto the lightened areas of skin. The UVB light stimulates the pi...
What are the Side Effects of Excimer Laser Treatment?
Significant side effects of excimer laser are uncommon, but some people may experience temporary redness, itching, burning or stinging, darkening/l...
How Effective is Excimer Laser?
Research shows that excimer laser treatment is highly effective. In one study, participants experienced greater than 75 percent repigmentation of t...
Is Excimer Laser Treatment Permanent?
Excimer laser treatment provides long-lasting results, but the results are not always permanent, as autoimmune disease, neurogenic factors, genetic...
What Is the Excimer Laser?
If you are looking for a safe and effective treatment, then the excimer laser is for you. By using concentrated beams of light, the excimer laser works to target only patches of skin with vitiligo without causing harm to healthy skin.
Does It Work to Treat Vitiligo?
If clinical studies are indication enough of whether or not excimer works, then you’ll be happy to know that patients who have gotten excimer laser done have experienced repigmentation in just two to four weeks of treatment.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
One of the biggest questions that our patients have about excimer laser treatments is how many sessions they will need. The amount of treatments you will need is based on how severe your vitiligo is. On average, however, it usually takes fewer than 30 sessions for patients to get the full results.
What Does The Excimer Laser Feel Like?
One of the unique benefits of the excimer laser is that it’s painless. Additionally, because the procedure is fast and pain-free, there isn’t any sort of preparation work necessary.
Schedule a Consultation
If your vitiligo is making you feel more self-conscious than anything, then make sure that you schedule an appointment with our office today and give us a call at our Glenn Dale office at 301.249.0970.
How do Excimer Laser Treatments Work?
Light travels in waves; some types of light waves are very long and other wavelengths are quite short. Scientists measure wavelengths in nanometers (nm). The type of light you can see, or visible light, measures 400 to 700 nm. UV light has a shorter wavelength, measuring 100 to 400 nm.
Benefits of Excimer Laser Treatments
There are many benefits of using ultraviolet laser treatments over other therapies. These benefits include:
What Happens in an Excimer Laser Treatment Session?
The FDA-approved excimer laser is a handheld device that delivers a concentrated dose of UV light to the skin. The skincare professional moves the device over the surface of the patient’s skin in a fast, comfortable treatment session, performed in a doctor’s office or other outpatient settings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Excimer laser Treatment
Exposure to UVB rays can cause sunburns and skin cancer. Fortunately, excimer laser treatment does not increase the risk for skin cancer because it delivers a targeted super-narrow UVB band only to the affected areas, and spares surrounding skin tissue.
What is excimer laser vitiligo?
Excimer laser vitiligo is a treatment method for curing the skin disorder known as vitiligo. Vitiligo is a skin disorder wherein pale, white patches develop on the skin mainly due the death of or a defect in melanocytes, the cells that are responsible for the pigmentation of skin.
How long does it take to cure vitiligo?
The treatment period varies, depending on the effect the patient receives from the excimer method. On a normal basis, the treatment is scheduled for 3 days a week. This period has been calculated to provide the pigmentation more effectively. The complete cure, or full treatment, is accomplished only after 20-30 reps. This long duration has to be carried out until the end, without skips or breaks. The treatment time for every laser exposure is just a few minutes. This treatment has been considered the most effective measure for getting rid of vitiligo.
Manage Vitiligo and Psoriasis with Light at South Shore's South Coast Dermatology
There are some skin conditions that medical dermatology can help manage, but not cure. Psoriasis (which causes thick plaques to form) and vitiligo (which causes patchy pigmentation loss) fall into this category.
What Does an Excimer Laser Treatment Involve?
An Excimer Laser treatment must be prescribed by a doctor and is performed by a laser technician under the supervision of a physician.
Meet Our Physicians
Board certified in dermatology and pediatric dermatology, Dr. Csikesz practices general, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatology with clinical interests in acne, pediatric surgery, and lasers.
Meet Our Physicians
Dr. Anderson-Dockter is a highly trained dermatologist in general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. She is also a faculty member at Roger Williams Medical Center.
Meet Our Physicians
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. DeCoste practices general, medical and surgical dermatology with a strong background and interest in laser and cosmetic dermatology.
Meet Our Physicians
Dr. DeGiacomo is a longtime fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, with a strong interest and experience in cosmetic dermatology.
Meet Our Physicians
Board certified in dermatology and pediatric dermatology, Dr. Csikesz practices general, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatology with clinical interests in acne, pediatric surgery, and lasers.
Where is vitiligo most commonly found?
Vitiligo is most commonly found in exposed areas, such as the hands and face, or around body openings or folds, such as the eyes, nostrils, mouth, arm pits, and genitalia.
What is the best laser treatment for psoriasis?
Patients with psoriasis or vitiligo have likely tried countless other treatment options for their condition. This often includes topical creams, systemic medications, and UVB therapy. While these treatments can offer some relief from symptoms, they often take a long time to perform, and they may expose the entire body to the medication. The XTRAC laser offers several benefits over other treatments. Some of these benefits include: 1 Shorter treatment time 2 No UV exposure to healthy skin 3 No hassle of daily creams 4 No risk of skin thinning or stretch marks 5 No risk of liver damage or birth defects 6 Can be used on hard-to-treat areas
What is XTRAC laser?
The XTRAC laser is best designed for patients with mild to moderate psoriasis or vitiligo. It is often the dermatologist choice for patients who have had unsuccessful results from topical or systemic medication. Many major insurance companies cover the XTRAC laser procedure for treatment of these skin conditions.
How long does XTRAC treatment last?
The high-exposure laser energy effectively treats active lesions while leaving healthy skin intact. Treatment sessions last from 5-30 minutes, depending on amount of skin involved. You may experience feelings of warmth, but most patients do not experience any pain or discomfort during the XTRAC laser procedure.
What wavelength is XTRAC laser?
Thousands of patients across the world have experienced the effective results of this procedure, which uses a wavelength of 308nm to gently clear skin. XTRAC laser treatment is a safe and quick procedure that effectively clears the skin of active lesions while leaving healthy skin intact.
Is XTRAC laser good for skin?
While these treatments can offer some relief from symptoms, they often take a long time to perform, and they may expose the entire body to the medication. The XTRAC laser offers several benefits over other treatments. Some of these benefits include: Shorter treatment time. No UV exposure to healthy skin.
Can XTRAC laser be used on hard to treat areas?
No UV exposure to healthy skin. No hassle of daily creams. No risk of skin thinning or stretch marks. No risk of liver damage or birth defects. Can be used on hard-to-treat areas. Patients may see even faster results if they combine the XTRAC laser treatment with their current treatment.
How long does it take to get clearance for Vitiligo?
Vitiligo. Call Now 844-873-5941 or. CLICK TO FIND A DOCTOR. You may reach clearance in as little as 3 months. Used by thousands of physicians in convenient locations. Over 4 million treatments performed in the US, and more than 5 million worldwide.
What is XTRAC laser?
The XTRAC® excimer laser delivers a targeted beam of UVB light and only the areas of skin affected by vitiligo receive the laser energy, with the surrounding skin unharmed . Since receiving FDA clearance in 2000, the XTRAC Excimer Laser has come to be recognized by dermatologists worldwide as the market leader in treatment of psoriasis, vitiligo, ...
Can excimer lasers be used on face?
I'm not aware of another treatment that will reliably repigment patients in as few treatments. Even when the condition is severe, the excimer laser provides dramatically effective results.
Is XTRAC a good laser for vitiligo?
The XTRAC excimer laser is safe and healthy, dermatologist recommended and XTRAC® vitiligo treatment is generally covered by health insurances, Medicare & Medicaid. It can treat any area on your body, including psoriasis on. scalp, palms, feet, back, elbow, knee, etc. It can treat any area on your body, including vitiligo on face, neck, scalp, ...