Wood's Lamp Examination
A diagnostic procedure in which long-wave ultraviolet (UVA) light (~365 nm) is used to illuminate the skin in a darkened room, producing characteristic fluorescence patterns for certain dermatoses.
Full Definition
Wood's lamp examination exploits the fluorescent properties of certain pigments, microorganisms, and porphyrins when exposed to UVA light at approximately 365 nm. In dermatology, it aids the diagnosis of tinea capitis (green/yellow fluorescence with Microsporum species), erythrasma (coral-red fluorescence due to Corynebacterium minutissimum), pityriasis versicolor (yellow-green), and hypopigmentation assessment in vitiligo (bright blue-white). Editors must render the possessive correctly as 'Wood's lamp' (with apostrophe-s), not 'Wood lamp' or 'Woods lamp.' The procedure name should be capitalised.
Usage
Usage note: The correct possessive form is 'Wood's lamp' (with apostrophe-s). 'Woods lamp' without the apostrophe is a common error to flag. Do not confuse with dermoscopy, which uses polarised or non-polarised light at skin-contact magnification.
In Context
- "Wood's lamp examination revealed coral-red fluorescence consistent with erythrasma of the axillae." — Clinical assessment note
- "The proofreader corrected 'Woods lamp' to 'Wood's lamp' on three occasions within the journal article." — Proofreading log