What this light shows
White light provides a true-to-life visual of the skin surface. This is the view most like what we see with the naked eye, but with higher clarity and consistency.

What this tells us

• Overall skin tone and colour balance
• Visible redness, pigmentation, and textural irregularities
• Wrinkles, pores, and surface congestion

Why it matters clinically
White light establishes the baseline. It allows us to document the client’s starting point, track visible improvements over time, and align what the client sees with the clinical plan.

What this shows
Positive polarised light improves the clarity of superficial texture and magnifies local details, allowing clear observation of smoothness, fine lines, wrinkles, and bumps (including wrinkles, pores, acne scars, and acne).

What this tells us

• Surface texture and smoothness
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Pore visibility and congestion
• Acne scars and active lesions

Why it matters clinically
This mode helps practitioners assess the skin’s surface condition in detail, guiding treatment choices for exfoliation, resurfacing, or barrier support. It ensures interventions target the skin where it needs it most.

What this light shows
Negative polarised light enhances contrast between different skin components, making pigment and vascular structures stand out more clearly.

What this tells us

• Deeper or more established pigmentation
• Mixed pigment and vascular conditions
• Areas at higher risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation

Why it matters clinically
This view is critical for risk assessment. It helps guide safer energy-based treatments and pigment correction strategies, particularly for higher Fitzpatrick skin types.

What this light shows
UV light causes certain skin components to fluoresce, revealing what’s not visible to the naked eye.

What this tells us

• Sun damage not yet visible on the surface
• Porphyrins associated with acne-causing bacteria
• Oil congestion and dehydration patterns

Why it matters clinically
UV imaging is powerful for early intervention. It helps prevent future damage and explains breakouts or texture issues before they fully present.

What this light shows
Wood’s Light uses ultraviolet light to reveal pigmentation, sun damage, and bacterial activity that can’t be seen with normal light.

What this tells us

• Areas of pigmentation and sun damage
• Uneven melanin distribution
• Acne-related bacterial activity
• Skin areas prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation

Why it matters clinically
This mode helps practitioners understand the root causes of pigmentation and acne, guiding treatments for better long-term results rather than just addressing surface concerns.

What this light shows
Red light emphasises blood vessels and circulation within the skin.

What this tells us

• Degree of vascular activity
• Inflammation patterns
• Areas contributing to persistent redness or flushing

Why it matters clinically
Understanding vascular involvement helps determine whether redness is best addressed with barrier repair, calming protocols, or vascular-targeted devices.

What this light shows
Brown light isolates melanin, making pigment easier to assess.

What this tells us

• Distribution and density of pigmentation
• Sun damage patterns
• Whether pigment is likely epidermal or deeper

Why it matters clinically
This allows for targeted pigment strategies rather than guesswork — helping decide between peels, laser, topical correction, or combined approaches.

What this shows
White Map highlights skin texture and areas of collagen loss, using advanced imaging to visualise structural changes beneath the surface.

What this tells us

• Uneven texture and roughness
• Loss of collagen density
• Areas prone to sagging or early ageing
• Where treatments like microneedling, RF, or collagen-inducing therapies will have the most impact

Why it matters clinically
This overlay allows practitioners to see both surface and structural concerns in one view, helping to prioritise anti-ageing and skin-renewal treatments. It ensures interventions are targeted for maximum results.