Oregon Esthetician State Board

What color does dehydrated skin show as under a Wood's lamp?

1. Yellow orange

2. Brown

3. Light violet or purple

4. Blue white

The correct answer is: Light violet or purple

Dehydrated skin appears as light violet or purple under a Wood's lamp due to the specific way the lamp detects moisture levels in the skin. The Wood's lamp emits ultraviolet light, which causes certain skin conditions and characteristics to fluoresce in distinctive colors, providing important diagnostic information. Dehydrated skin has an altered structure and moisture lack, which causes this specific fluorescence. In contrast, other colors under the Wood's lamp indicate different skin conditions or characteristics. For example, yellow-orange often relates to oily skin or certain types of pigmentation, while brown indicates areas of hyperpigmentation. Blue-white fluorescence is typically associated with healthy, hydrated skin or the presence of product residues. This knowledge can help estheticians assess skin conditions accurately and provide appropriate treatments based on the skin's hydration state.