Oregon Esthetician State Board

What color represents healthy skin areas under a Wood's lamp?

1. Green

2. Blue white

3. Light violet

4. Yellow or orange

The correct answer is: Blue white

Under a Wood's lamp, healthy skin areas typically appear blue-white. This specific color signifies that the skin is well-hydrated and has no significant issues such as excessive oiliness or dehydration, which can be represented by different colors. The blue-white light indicates a normal, well-functioning epidermis, which is crucial for estheticians to assess skin health accurately. The other colors correspond to different skin conditions: green might indicate the presence of certain bacteria or fungal infections, light violet could suggest skin problems like pigmentation issues, and yellow or orange is often associated with oily areas or comedonal acne. Thus, recognizing that blue-white indicates healthy skin helps estheticians understand and evaluate skin conditions more effectively.