Eight captures of one face, each under different light, each showing something the others cannot. Here it is at a glance.
The quick reference
| Light | Shows |
|---|---|
| White | Surface truth — acne, spots, wrinkles, pores. The baseline. |
| Positive polarized | Texture detail — fine lines, wrinkle depth, scars |
| Negative polarized | Below the surface — capillaries, deep pigment, uniformity |
| Wood's | Deep dermal melanin, standing out because it does not fluoresce |
| UV | Porphyrin and fluorescent agents |
| Red | Haemoglobin — sensitivity, erythema, blood streaks |
| Brown | Subcutaneous UV damage and accumulated melanin |
| Mixed | Collagen loss and surface roughness |
The two that land hardest
In practice, two spectra do most of the persuading:
- Brown light, because it maps sun damage accumulated below the surface. A client who believes their skin is fine sees damage they did not know was there.
- Wood's light, because it isolates deep pigment. Someone treating a surface spot discovers how much sits deeper.
Both work because they show something a mirror cannot. That is the entire value proposition of multi-spectral imaging, and it is why the deeper spectra justify their cost more than another few megapixels would.
One caution
Showing someone unexpected damage is powerful, which means it needs handling well. An image is information, not a verdict — and these are assessment tools for consultation, not a medical diagnosis.
Explain what the light does and why the feature appears. A client who understands the image trusts it. One who feels frightened by it books nothing and tells people why. The full spectrum guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which spectrum matters most?
White light is the baseline everything else compares against. For consultation impact, brown and Wood's light tend to matter most because they show what the client cannot see in a mirror.
Do all analysers have eight spectra?
No. Our facial and combined systems document eight; the scalp specialist uses four purpose-chosen spectra. Ask how many and which ones for the model you are quoted.