In diagnosing for skin diseases, wood lamps are an essential instrument for skin experts. Nevertheless, this skin detecting instrument has been thought of somewhat traditional by some modern-day dermatologists. It also states that these conventional wood lamps have been competitively competing with the many modern sources of black light available in the global market.
On a good note, many are still investing in this lightweight device and its capability to detect skin problems. Research from Million Insights suggests that wood lamps being light and neatly presented, can be considered as an answer to why it is still making noise in the market of dermatology. Wood lamps consume less power and having an old school masculine attributes are also vital factors that prove wood lamps can still be in the global market. Even after modern devices calls it out as outdated or non-working.
What Is A Wood Lamp?
A wood lamp is a skin detecting device with low mercury arc wrapped in a wood filter. This device produces Ultraviolet (UV) Lights in a nanometer range of 365. Dermatologists use this to spot if the person has bacteria that cause skin irritation or disease. Furthermore, this light emitting device also helps ophthalmologists to detect if the person has corneal scratches on the surface of his eyes. In this way, patients who are early diagnosed with such health problems can have an early treatment as it aids to prevent the problem from growing. The medical wood lamp was created by the Baltimore physicist Robert W. Wood, around the year 1903.
Wood Lamp Test
To perform a wood lamp test, you need to follow these procedures:
- First, you need to be in a dark room to use the wood lamp’s light to its extent.
- Next, make sure that the patient did not put on any makeup or creams, neither washed his face before the test. Those products can alter the result into false positive.
- Third, turn on the wood lamp to warm it up.
- After waiting for the wood lamp to adapt to the dark, hold the light about 10-30cm away but directly to the patient’s irritated part of the skin for a few seconds.
- Lastly, make sure not to look directly at the Ultraviolet light, as it may cause the eyes a trouble!
Just additional information: to examine if you have scratches on the surface of your eyes, your doctor will put a solution on it then hold the wooden lamp above the troubled area. Tests using medical wood lamps are harmless and without pain. It may seem easy to do, but it is so vital to have it done by an expert.
What Skin Disorders Can Wood Lamp Detect?
The wood lamp is an instrument used to spot pigments that can be something risky. Healthy skin is sort of color blue under the UV light and white spots in an area with a thick skin, purple if the area lacks moisture, and yellow if it is oily.
These are some problems a wood lamp can detect:
- Vitiligo
- Melasma
- Tinea Capitis
- Acne
- Head lice and Scabies
All in all, this light emitting device is not just globally competitive for its features, but wood lamps are still in the global market solely for its primary function: to spot skin problems. If one is simply looking for a wood lamp either for its medical purpose or simply as a decor the company Lamp Twist will be able to cater this to you.