Article
What Can a Wood’s Lamp Be Used For
A Wood’s lamp is a diagnostic device that emits long-wave ultraviolet (UV) light, typically in the range of 320 to 450 nm, with a peak emission around 365nm. When this invisible UV light strikes certain organic molecules on the skin or hair, these molecules absorb the energy and then immediately re-emit it at a longer,…
A Wood’s lamp is a diagnostic device that emits long-wave ultraviolet (UV) light, typically in the range of 320 to 450 nm, with a peak emission around 365nm. When this invisible UV light strikes certain organic molecules on the skin or hair, these molecules absorb the energy and then immediately re-emit it at a longer, visible wavelength. This phenomenon is called fluorescence. The different colors of fluorescence produced by various substances—such as metabolic byproducts of fungi or specific pigments—allow clinicians to non-invasively detect and diagnose a range of conditions.
What Infections Can Be Diagnosed with a Wood’s Lamp?
The Wood’s lamp assists in detecting certain fungal, bacterial, and yeast infections because some microorganisms or their by-products fluoresce under UV light. Examples include:
• Tinea capitis caused by Microsporum species may fluoresce blue-green.
• Pityriasis versicolor may show yellow-orange fluorescence caused by Malassezia.
• Erythrasma, caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum, shows coral-red fluorescence.
• Pseudomonas infections can appear bright green.
And many porphyrins fluoresce under UV light. In conditions such as porphyria cutanea tarda, pink or orange-red fluorescence can be seen in porphyrins present in the skin, blood, urine, or stool. This makes the Wood’s lamp a useful adjunct screening tool.
What Skin Pigmentation Disorders Can Be Detected?
One major use of the Wood’s lamp is to evaluate pigment disorders. For example, in vitiligo, areas without melanocytes appear sharply outlined and show bluish-white fluorescence, allowing precise mapping of affected skin. In melasma, the lamp helps determine whether excess pigment is in the epidermis or deeper dermis. Epidermal melasma appears more enhanced under UV light, while dermal melasma looks gray-blue. The Wood’s lamp is also useful for other hypopigmented conditions, making their borders clearer and easier to assess.
What Are the Differences Between the IBOOLO DE-215 and DE-315 Wood’s Lamps?
The primary distinction between the IBOOLO DE-215 and DE-315 lies in their differing light modes. The DE-215 features two illumination modes: white light and 365nm UV light. White light is primarily used for examining surface skin details, while 365nm UV light is chiefly employed for observing fungal conditions and pigmentary disorders. The DE-315, conversely, offers two illumination modes: 365nm UV light and 405nm UV light. The 405nm UV light is primarily intended for fluorescence imaging when using ALA, particularly to highlight basal cell carcinoma or actinic keratosis. The other most typical and widely used application of 405 nm light is to visualize the porphyrins produced by Cutibacterium acnes. These porphyrins emit an orange-red or brick-red fluorescence under 405 nm illumination.
How Is a Wood’s Lamp Examination Performed and Interpreted?
Before starting a Wood’s lamp examination, patients should be instructed not to apply any topical products, cosmetics, or creams to the area to be examined, as these substances may contain fluorescent components that can interfere with the results, causing false positives or false negatives. The primary requirement for the examination is to place the area in a completely dark environment (Every purchase of an IBOOLO Wood’s lamp comes with a complimentary black cloth cover). During the procedure, the clinician should hold the Wood’s lamp approximately 10 to 15 centimeters from the skin surface while carefully observing any abnormal color changes. It is essential that, because the Wood’s lamp emits ultraviolet light, patients close their eyes when examining the face, and the examiner should wear protective eyewear to ensure eye safety.
In addition, the observation time must be kept to a minimum, typically completing the quick scan and observation within 60 seconds, to ensure the safety of the patient, minimize UVA exposure, and avoid the risk of potential phototoxic reactions or burns in photosensitive individuals.
What Does the Future Hold for Wood’s Lamp Use?
Newer technologies, such as ultraviolet-induced fluorescence dermoscopy, integrate UV sources into dermoscopes to provide more precise imaging. These advancements may expand the diagnostic role of UV fluorescence. Devices such as the IBOOLO DE-3100 PRO, DE-4100 PRO, and DE-500 dermoscopes are equipped with UV light functionality, providing convenient and practical tools for clinicians to utilize this technique in routine examinations.
In addition, because dermatoscopes use high-quality optical lenses, fungal lesions appear clearer and more detailed when viewed through the dermatoscope’s window. Furthermore, all IBOOLO dermatoscopes can be connected to a smartphone, allowing clinicians to capture and save images— a capability that Wood’s lamps do not have.
Are There Any Other Uncommon Uses for Wood’s Lamp?
Beyond its main dermatological applications in detecting infections and pigment changes, the Wood’s lamp has several other lesser-known uses. In ophthalmology, it is commonly used to visualize corneal abrasions or foreign bodies. Fluorescein dye, applied to the eye, pools in areas of epithelial damage and fluoresces green under the Wood’s lamp, making the damage clearly visible.
The lamp can also be used in non-medical forensic and investigative settings. For instance, certain body fluids (like semen or urine) and textile fibers fluoresce under UV light, which can be useful in crime scene analysis. In a clinical context, it has been used to assess the proper application of topical sunscreens (which fluoresce) or to detect residual invisible topical medication that could interfere with other diagnostic tests.
