NIC Esthetician Written ExamSkin Analysis and ConsultationMedium
An esthetician notes that a client's skin has a yellowish-green fluorescence under a Wood's lamp. What does this specific color typically indicate?
- ADehydrated areas of the skin.
- BAreas of hypopigmentation.
- CPresence of oily skin or bacteria.
- DHealthy, normal skin.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Presence of oily skin or bacteria.
A Wood's lamp uses filtered ultraviolet light to illuminate skin conditions. A yellowish-green fluorescence is typically indicative of the presence of bacteria, particularly P. acnes (now Cutibacterium acnes), or sometimes excessive oiliness, due to the porphyrins produced by the bacteria or lipids on the skin surface.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Dehydrated areas may appear light violet or invisible, not yellowish-green.
- B. Hypopigmentation (loss of pigment) typically appears brighter white or blue-white under a Wood's lamp.
- D. Healthy, normal skin typically shows a blue-white fluorescence under a Wood's lamp, not yellowish-green.
Wood's Lamp Fluorescence
A diagnostic tool that uses filtered UV light to reveal various skin conditions based on their characteristic fluorescence patterns and colors.
- Different colors indicate different conditions.
- Yellow-green = bacteria/oil; bright white/blue-white = hypopigmentation/thick stratum corneum.
- Violet = dehydrated; dark spots = hyperpigmentation.
Memory trick: Wood's Lamp: Colors tell tales of skin's secrets.