What should you know about Wood's lamp skin analysis?

The lamp may make subtle lightening, darkening, scaling, or pigment borders easier to distinguish. Some infections and other skin changes can fluoresce, while normal skin and many conditions do not. A visible glow is not a diagnosis by itself, and a lack of glow does not rule out a problem. The clinician combines the pattern with your history, symptoms, and direct examination.

Usually, the area is examined without touching it. Follow the clinic's instructions about makeup, creams, deodorant, or topical medicines because products can alter what the lamp shows. The room is darkened, the lamp is held near the skin, and the assessment is brief. Tell the clinician about recent products, treatments, tanning, or a rash that is changing.

Arrange a clinical assessment for a new or changing patch, persistent itching, spreading colour change, pain, crusting, bleeding, or a sore that does not heal. Seek urgent help if a skin problem is rapidly worsening or comes with facial swelling, breathing difficulty, confusion, or severe illness. A Wood's lamp should support, not delay, an examination.

Ask what the observed pattern may represent, whether another test is needed, and which symptoms should prompt review. You can also ask whether products on the skin could have affected the result and when you should return if the area changes.