Heal House Vitiligo Research 37 · Original Article
Can early vitiligo that is hard to see with the naked eye also be clearly detected?
365-nm narrowband Wood's lamp for vitiligo and hypopigmentation disorders
In short
Using a special ultraviolet lamp (365 nm Wood's lamp), even pale vitiligo lesions that are easily missed with the naked eye can be seen clearly.
It is often difficult to tell with the naked eye whether faint lesions are present or not. This is especially true for people with lighter skin tones. As a result, diagnosis and the timing of treatment can be delayed. We wondered if pushing the limits of the long-used ultraviolet lamp called a "Wood's lamp" a little further could reduce this frustration. So we examined how much more clearly a Wood's lamp with a wavelength narrowed to around 365 nm can show lesions.
Q1 What is a Wood's lamp, and how is a 365nm Wood's lamp different?
A Wood's lamp is a diagnostic tool that shines ultraviolet light to make skin lesions appear brightly fluorescent. Areas that have lost pigment, such as in vitiligo, appear whiter and more distinct than the surrounding skin under a Wood's lamp. This makes it easy to find lesions that are difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Some of you may have had an examination in the clinic where the lights are turned off and this lamp is shone on the skin. The 365 nm Wood's lamp I focused on takes this a step further. By narrowing the wavelength of light to around 365 nm, it creates an even sharper contrast between the lesion and normal skin. This allows for more accurate visualization of faint lesions and lesion borders. The same applies when examining other skin conditions that cause lightening of the skin, not just vitiligo.
Closing remarks
It may seem like a story about changing just one small tool, but not missing early lesions and accurately seeing their borders is the first step in treatment. It is particularly helpful in the diagnosis and monitoring of people with lighter skin tones whose lesions are hard to see. I also use it regularly in my own practice.
