SKINIPEDIA - Skin Encyclopedia: The Wood's Lamp

The What is Wood's Lamp and What It Does for You?

American Physicist Robert Wood (1868-1955) invented this great diagnostic tools that is now called the "Wood's Light" or "Wood's Lamp". Some of call the Woods Lamp "Black Light". UV Light or "Black Light" is invisible to the eye, hence the term black light. The Wood’s Lamp uses light and magnification to assist in thoroughly analyzing the skin and highlighting various facial skin conditions. This lamp has long been used in the medical field to diagnose skin conditions. The Wood’s Lamp uses violet rays or black light, and must be used in a dark room. The blacklight colorizes the different areas of the skin to indicate different conditions as follows:

* Blue-white : normal, healthy skin
* Bright fluorescent : hydrated skin
* Light violet : dehydrated skin
* Purple fluorescent : thin skin without enough moisture
* White spots: dead skin cells
* White fluorescent : thick corneum (dead skin) layer
* Yellow , pink, or orange: oily areas of the face and clogged pores
* Brown : pigmentation, dark spots, and sun-damage

A Wood's lamp is therefore a diagnostic tool used in dermatology by which ultraviolet light is shone onto the skin of the patient; a technician then observes any subsequent fluorescence. For example, porphyrins — associated with some skin diseases — will fluoresce pink.

Article brought to you by Michelle Macomber, of The Best Facials in San Diego, Surface Esthetics.

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