Under Woods lamp examination, which color is associated with oily skin?

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Multiple Choice

Under Woods lamp examination, which color is associated with oily skin?

Under Wood’s lamp, the color you see reflects what substances in the skin fluoresce under UV light. Oilier areas tend to glow orange because porphyrins produced by bacteria in sebum (notably Propionibacterium acnes) fluoresce in that orange-red range. This makes oily, sebaceous zones stand out, which is why orange is the color associated with oily skin. Blue-white is more typical of normal skin or areas without excess oil, green points to certain infections (like some fungi or bacteria), and purple isn’t a standard finding for oiliness under Wood’s lamp.

Under Wood’s lamp, the color you see reflects what substances in the skin fluoresce under UV light. Oilier areas tend to glow orange because porphyrins produced by bacteria in sebum (notably Propionibacterium acnes) fluoresce in that orange-red range. This makes oily, sebaceous zones stand out, which is why orange is the color associated with oily skin.

Blue-white is more typical of normal skin or areas without excess oil, green points to certain infections (like some fungi or bacteria), and purple isn’t a standard finding for oiliness under Wood’s lamp.

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