Ultraviolet Light Ringworm

A wood s lamp correctly used can be a helpful and cost effective screening tool.

Ultraviolet light ringworm.

Ringworm is very badly named because it is caused by a fungus not a worm says dr. A wood s lamp is an ultraviolet light with a specific wavelength of light which causes some strains of m. Already used for medical conditions such as seasonal affective disorder sad uv light treatment combined with anti fungal drug treatments is sometimes used to combat a variety of fungal infections especially those of the skin or nails. In humans ringworm forms a ring shaped raised red rash but this presentation is not common in animals.

A wood s lamp examination is a procedure that uses transillumination light to detect bacterial or fungal skin infections. Take a culture of the suspected fungus with a cotton swab and allow it to develop in a sealed culture media or seek professional assistance. Ultraviolet light used in diagnosing ringworm. John angus a veterinary dermatologist at the university of illinois veterinary teaching hospital in urbana.

The uv light used for identifying ringworm is often known as a wood s lamp by practitioners. Uv blacklight flashlight 100 led uv flashlights super bright ultraviolet flashlight professional black light pet urine detector for dog cat hunting scorpions 4 6 out of 5 stars 554 19 99 19. Ringworm makes its home on the hair and skin and it affects both people and pets. Ultraviolet light wood s lamp normally ultraviolet light is not useful in the diagnosis of tinea with the exception of two species microsporum canis and audouinii.

One of the simplest ways to diagnose ringworm is with the woods lamp which is an ultraviolet lamp also know as a black light. Although both species fluoresce blue green under a wood s lamp both species are uncommon causes of tinea infections. Confirm the diagnosis with a culture. The light itself looks bluish or purplish and causes some of the organisms responsible for ringworm to appear to glow yellow or green when the.

A black light diagnosis should not be considered conclusive. However it is not very common. Canis the most common feline ringworm species to fluoresce.