Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy is an established treatment for psoriasis, vitiligo, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and an important option for eczema (atopic dermatitis) when topical treatments are not enough.

Phothera makes prescription phototherapy available both in your doctor’s office and at home, with devices designed to support the treatment plan your healthcare provider recommends.

Who is phototherapy good for?

Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy can be used to treat a wide range of people with skin conditions that respond to light therapy. Because treatment is prescribed and monitored by a healthcare provider, it may also be an option for patients who have special treatment considerations.

Additionally, phototherapy may also be a good option for those who find topical treatments difficult to use in daily life.

What Skin Conditions Does Phototherapy Treat?

Phototherapy for Psoriasis

An estimated 8 million people in the U.S. live with psoriasis.⁵ Phototherapy can help you:

• Reduce inflammation and visible plaques
• Effective as a standalone or alongside other treatments
• With many patients not requiring a systemic medication

Phototherapy is a well-established, guideline-recommended psoriasis treatment that works directly on the skin rather than through the whole body. In clinical studies, most patients saw major improvement — on average, skin clearance of around 68%, with over 6 in 10 patients reaching 75% clearance or better⁶.

At-home device (100 model), week 1 vs. week 7. Individual results may vary.

Phototherapy for Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

Eczema affects more than 16 million people in the U.S. It causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin that can appear anywhere on the body and may flare over time. Phototherapy can help you: ⁷

• Calms immune-driven inflammation and persistent itch
• Help reduce flare frequency and severity
• Serve as a step-up option when topicals aren’t enough

Phototherapy helps control moderate-to-severe eczema, even in children, without relying on steroids or whole-body medications. It treats large skin areas directly and works well combined with other treatments — easing both itching and rash. In one study, children treated this way saw eczema severity drop by 61%, while untreated children got slightly worse with benefits lasting at least six months.⁸

Phototherapy for Vitiligo

What is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting up to 3 million people in the U.S.,⁹ where the immune system attacks melanocytes—the cells that produce skin pigment.

How it appears
When melanocytes are damaged or destroyed, white patches develop on different areas of the body. It is not contagious and can affect all ages and skin tones, with variable patterns and progression.

Impact on daily life
Because vitiligo often appears in visible areas like the face, hands, and arms, it can also affect emotional well-being, including self-consciousness and stress around appearance and treatment options.

How Phototherapy Helps Vitiligo

Narrowband UVB phototherapy helps stimulate melanocytes, supporting the skin’s natural repigmentation process. It is one of the most widely used and clinically supported treatments for vitiligo.

Phototherapy can help you:

• Support natural repigmentation, with 74% showing improvement at 6 months¹¹
• More effective when combined with topical therapy—up to 2x more effective than topicals alone¹²
• Provide a non-systemic treatment option
• Deliver a gradual, controlled approach guided by a treatment plan

Clinical studies show that many people see visible improvement within several months of consistent treatment, with outcomes varying based on individual response and treatment adherence.

In-office phototherapy, 20 sessions. Individual results may vary.

Phototherapy for CTCL (Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma)

Phototherapy is used as a targeted treatment option for early-stage patch or plaque, mycosis fungoides, the most common CTCL and is a well-established therapy in dermatology and oncology settings and is guideline recommended. In a clinical trial, over half the patients showed a complete clearance of patches.¹³

Common Side Effect of Phototherapy

Sometimes temporary reddening of the skin occurs during the course of treatment. It appears and resolves quickly, however.  Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Patients can also report the injury at support.phothera.com.

References:

1. Pavlovsky M, Baum S, Shpiro D, Pavlovsky L, Pavlotsky F. Narrow band UVB: is it effective and safe for pediatric psoriasis and atopic dermatitis? J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Jun;25(6):727-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03832.x. Epub 2010 Aug 18. PMID: 20726938.
2. Bae YC. Van Voorhees AS, et al. “Review of treatment options for psoriasis in pregnant or lactating women: From the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Sep;67:459-77. 
3. Rácz, E., & Prens, E. P. (2017). Phototherapy of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 287–294. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56017-5_24 
4. Rácz, E., & Prens, E. P. (2017). Phototherapy of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 287–294. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56017-5_24.
5. Gondo GC, et al. Psoriasis Health Indicator Report, https://www.psoriasis.org/health-indicator-report. Accessed: 15, April 2026.
6. Elmets CA et al. AAD-NPF Joint Guidelines on Phototherapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(3):775804.
7. Chiesa Fuxench ZC, et al. Atopic Dermatitis in America Study: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining the Prevalence and Disease Burden of Atopic Dermatitis in the US Adult Population. J Invest Dermatol. 2019;139(3):583-590.
8. This treatment helps control moderate-to-severe eczema, even in children, without relying on steroids or whole-body medications. It treats large skin areas directly and works well combined with other treatments — easing both itching and rash. In one study, children treated this way saw eczema severity drop by 61%, while untreated children got slightly worse. The benefits lasted at least six months.
9. Napatalung L, et al. JAMA Dermatology. 2022. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.4724.
10. Bae JM, et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(7):666-674.
11. Napatalung L, Gandhi K, Van Den Bremt B, et al. Prevalence of vitiligo among adults in the United States: A population-based survey study. JAMA Dermatol. 2021;157(12):1451-1458. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.4324
12. Silpa-Archa N, et al. J Dermatolog Treat. 2019;30(7):691-696.
13. Gathers RC, Scherschun L, Malick F, Fivenson DP, Lim HW. Narrowband UVB phototherapy for early-stage mycosis fungoides. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;47(2):191-197.