A Cross‐Sectional Study of In‐Office Phototherapy for Pediatric Vitiligo in Washington State

Narrowband UVB phototherapy (nbUVB) is an important first-line therapy in the management of vitiligo. We conducted a cross-sectional study of offices of board-certified dermatologists in Washington state to assess the availability of in-office nbUVB for the treatment of vitiligo in children. Of 129 offices identified as offering phototherapy, 46/129 (35.7%) offered phototherapy for vitiligo, 42/46 (91.3%) treated children, and only 18/42 (42.9%) accepted Medicaid insurance, with counties with the highest rates of pediatric Medicaid coverage having no in-office phototherapy options. This study highlights geographic and financial barriers to care in pediatric vitiligo and the need for a more comprehensive method for patients to identify in-office phototherapy, and potentially highlights a role for home phototherapy units in pediatric care.