UTILIZING THE ULTRAVIOLET (UV DETECT) CAMERA TO ENHANCE THE APPEARANCE OF PHOTODAMAGE AND OTHER SKIN CONDITIONS

BACKGROUND. Ultraviolet (UV) light (Wood's light) has been used since 1903 to document alterations in the pigment of the skin. The developme nt of standard UV photographic methods has allowed better opportunitie s for patient education and the monitoring of their therapeutic progre ss. OBJECTIVE. TO incorporate standardized UV photography into our cos metic dermatology practice as a tool for patient teaching and monitori ng therapeutic treatment programs. METHODS. Patients with Fitzpatrick Type I to III skin types were photographed with visible and ultraviole t light. The resultant photographic prints were discussed with the pat ient. When appropriate, therapeutic programs to reverse the findings w ere instituted for these patients. Follow-up photographs were used to document changes. RESULTS. The UV camera became a useful tool in our p ractice. One picture teas worth a thousand words. The UV camera docume nted pigment changes, melasma, vitiligo, and posttraumatic or postsurg ical hypopigmentation. The UV camera was also useful to monitor treatm ent programs designed to redistribute the pigment.CONCLUSION. The UV c amera should become an integral part of sun damage detection both in t he physician's office and in the community. Not only does the camera d ocument pigmentary changes but if also demonstrates improvement after therapeutic intervention. (C) 1997 by the American Society for Dermato logic Surgery, Inc.