5 Things to Know About Home Phototherapy for Vitiligo
Erika Page is the Founder and Editor of Living Dappled.…
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Home phototherapy – light therapy that you do in the comfort of your own home – is becoming an increasingly viable option for treating vitiligo. In part, it’s thanks to companies like Daavlin who provide home therapy units for ease in delivery and application of phototherapy.
Helping patients with skin disorders since 1981, Daavlin ships thousands of home light therapy units a year for patients with vitiligo, psoriasis, eczema and other conditions. What is home phototherapy and how does it work? Daavlin’s experts have those answers for you.
What is home phototherapy?
Phototherapy, or light therapy, is the use of light to treat skin conditions and is frequently used to treat vitiligo in addition to psoriasis and other skin disorders. In vitiligo, patches of white skin are given regular, brief exposures to ultraviolet (UV) light that is emitted from a medical device. The UV rays stimulate the melanocytes, which are the cells in the skin responsible for producing pigment. As a result, color can return to the skin. Home phototherapy allows this form of treatment to be done from the comfort of your home using units specially designed for that purpose.
Are there different types of home phototherapy units?
Home phototherapy units come in multiple shapes and sizes to accommodate the different levels of body surface that need to be treated. For example, Daavlin’s 7-series panel allows patients to treat the entire body. Despite its size, the panel doesn’t take up much floor space and can be mounted to a wall or stored behind a door. Daavlin also has DermaPal, a handheld device for treating smaller spots. Just four inches wide, the unit’s size makes it easy to pack when traveling.
How does home phototherapy work?
Once a healthcare provider prescribes a home phototherapy unit, Daavlin’s team of insurance specialists work with the patient to get the highest level of insurance coverage possible. The device is then shipped to the patient’s home and the patient will use the device following a treatment plan determined by their doctor. Treatment works the same as light therapy in a clinic or doctor’s office – it’s simply more convenient, and therefore easier to stick with a consistent schedule. Treatments take just a few minutes, and most protocols recommend 3 to 4 evenly spaced treatments per week.
What are the benefits of home phototherapy?
The main benefit of home phototherapy is convenience. For many patients, phototherapy involves multiple treatment sessions a week. Although the individual sessions might last just a few minutes, commuting to and from a doctor’s office multiple times a week can be time-consuming and exhausting. It can also be difficult to schedule visits during an office’s operating hours. Home phototherapy eliminates this pain point. Patients can do treatment any time of day and any day of the week without leaving their home. Looking to treat Sundays at midnight? You got it. Trying to fit it in before work at 5:30 a.m.? Go right ahead.
How do I get a home unit?
Home phototherapy is prescribed by your doctor. Start by discussing home phototherapy with your doctor and if you are a good candidate, they will write a prescription. Once the prescription and insurance information are provided, Daavlin will call the insurance company, verify the benefits and work with distributors nation-wide to try to get the products in-network so you can begin your treatment.
Have more questions? Check out Daavlin’s FAQ page and then learn more about their products at https://www.daavlin.com/. Interested in treating your vitiligo from home? Learn how to get 10% off a Daavlin unit when you mention Living Dappled.
Medical Disclaimer: This information is intended for informational purposes only. Consult with your doctor or a professional healthcare provider for medical advice, treatment or diagnosis.
Erika Page is the Founder and Editor of Living Dappled. After getting vitiligo at the age of seven, she lost 100% of her pigment to the condition and today lives with universal vitiligo.