Abstract: HU Hui-li, FAN Qi-min, CHEN Jun-fan, XU Ai-e. Department of Dermatology, Third People′s Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou 310009, China Corresponding author : XU Ai-e , Email: xuaihz@msn.com 【Abstract】 Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of 308-nm excimer laser combined with topical tacrolimus 0.03% cream for the treatment of childhood vitiligo on the face or neck. Methods Sixty-eight children aged < or = 14 years with vitiligo on the face or neck were enrolled in this study, and divided into two groups based on lesional sites, i.e., skin group with lesions on the forehead, cheek, lower mandible, neck or in the periortic region and mucosa group with lesions in the perioral or periorbital region. All the patients received 308-nm excimer laser irradiation once or twice weekly and topical tacrolimus 0.03% cream twice daily. Twenty sessions of irradiation served as a treatment course. Efficacy was evaluated at the end of the treatment course. The effects of erythema reaction and cumulative irradiation dose on efficacy were assessed. Results After 20 times of laser therapy, an excellent response was achieved in 78.4% of the patients in the skin group, and 54.8% in the mucosa group （P < 0.05）. During the treatment, the average frequency of erythema reaction lasting 48 hours or longer was significantly lower in the skin group than in the mucosa group （5.84 vs. 9.12, P < 0.01）. After 10 and 20 times of laser therapy, the cumulative radiation dose was 4215 mJ/cm2 and 10 453 mJ/cm2 in the skin group, respectively, compared to 3364 mJ/cm2 and 7430 mJ/cm2 in the mucosa group, respectively （both P < 0.01）. Conclusions The 308-nm excimer laser combined with topical tacrolimus cream is effective and safe for the treatment of childhood vitiligo on the face or neck. Vitiligo on the forehead, cheek, lower mandible, neck and in the periortic region appears to respond better to this therapy with a weaker erythema reaction than that in the perioral or periorbital region.