The Wood’s lamp is a diagnostic device that uses UVA light at a specific wavelength to reveal skin changes that are not visible to the naked eye. In a completely dark room, the dermatologist shines the lamp a few centimetres from the skin and certain structures become fluorescent or change appearance, helping to detect fungal infections, vitiligo, hyperpigmentation, seborrhoeic areas, marked dryness and sun-induced damage.
The examination is quick, painless, non-invasive and requires no special preparation. It helps to better define the extent of depigmented or pigmented patches, evaluate pigment depth and assess overall skin quality and photoaging.
Treatment options
At MAVIT, Wood’s lamp is used as a diagnostic support tool during dermatologic visits to refine differential diagnosis in suspected mycoses, vitiligo and complex pigmentary disorders, to decide on further tests (biopsy, cultures) and to guide treatment choice, including topical and systemic therapies, phototherapy, peeling, laser or depigmenting protocols. It is also used to monitor the evolution of treated lesions over time within a personalised care pathway.
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