Wood’s lamp

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Wood's lamp illumination

Wood's lamp test - of the scalp

Black light test; Ultraviolet light test

There are no risks, but avoid looking directly into the ultraviolet light, as you avoid looking into the sun.

Do not wash before the test, because that may cause a false-negative result. A room that is not dark enough may also alter results. Other materials may also glow. For example, some deodorants, make-ups, soaps, and even lint may be visible with the Wood's lamp.

Not all infections can be detected with the light. Some species of fungi and bacteria do not contain fluorescent chemicals.

Review Date: 10/13/2006
Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.