A Wood's lamp is a light that uses long wave ultraviolet light.
When an area of scalp that is infected with tinea (a type of
ringworm fungus) is viewed under a Wood's light, the fungus may
glow. This test may be done to detect the presence of a fungal
scalp or skin infection.
Review Date: 10/04/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center
for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed
Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
