What effect does a Wood's lamp have on normal skin?

A Wood's lamp, which emits ultraviolet (UV) light, is primarily used to examine skin for various conditions. When used on normal, healthy skin, the lamp typically produces a deep violet color. This is a characteristic effect of how the skin interacts with the UV light emitted by the Wood's lamp.

Normal skin reflects UV light without significant fluorescence, which typically appears as a violet hue. This effect allows dermatologists and skincare professionals to differentiate between normal skin and areas affected by specific skin conditions, as abnormal skin may fluoresce in different colors, indicating issues such as fungal infections or pigmentation disorders.

The other options reflect effects seen with certain skin conditions or materials rather than normal skin under a Wood's lamp. For instance, green fluorescence may indicate the presence of certain bacterial infections, while texture assessment relates more to surface examination rather than coloration under UV light. Thus, deep violet coloration denotes healthy skin when assessed with a Wood's lamp.