A pitfall in clinical photography: the appearance of skin lesions depends upon the illumination device.
BACKGROUND
Pictures of skin lesions are usually recorded with a camera equipped with a ring-type electric flash. In some cases the photographs do not reproduce the image perceived by the naked eye.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the quality of photographs taken with the ring-type electric flash.


METHODS
Photographs of skin lesions and an experimental skin model were taken under different illumination conditions including a standard light source, full-spectrum fluorescent ceiling lights and the ring-type electric flash.


RESULTS
Images taken under illumination with a standard light source box resembled those perceived by the naked eye. The full-spectrum fluorescent ceiling lights produced adequate results. Pictures taken with the ring-type electric flash showed some deficiencies including reduction in contrast, loss of shading and excess reflection.


CONCLUSIONS
The ring-type electric flash is not an ideal device for recording skin lesions. An illumination device compatible with a standard light source should be employed to yield maximum fidelity.
Ikeda
Isamu
I
Department of Dermatology, Omuta Tenryo Hospital, Tenryo 1-100, Omuta City, Fukuoka 836-8566, Japan. isamu@po.infobears.ne.jp
Urushihara
Kazunobu
K
Ono
Tomomichi
T
D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000473:pathology; D004485:Eczema / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D010781:Photography; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D017445:Skin Diseases, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology