Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Erythematous Scaly Patches and Plaques

Abstract

ermoscopy is an aiding diagnostic tool that allows the in vivo evaluation of colors and microstructures of the epidermis, the dermo-epidermal junction, and the papillary dermis which are not visible to the naked eye. Its idea depends on trans-illumination of a lesion and studying it with a high magnification. Old dermoscopes requires application of certain oil over the lesion to be examined while new dermoscopes are provided with polarized light, rendering the fluid placed on the lesion unnecessary for inspecting the vascular morphology of papulosquamous diseases. Dermoscopes are classified into, dermoscopes without image capturing facility, dermoscopes with image capturing facility and dermoscopes with image capture facility and analytical capability. Dermoscopes are used mainly for the study of melanocytic nevi and melanoma. However, it can be used to diagnose other conditions too, e.g. psoriasis, lichen planus, dermatofibroma, darier‟s disease, cicatricial alopecia, seborrheic keratosis, urticarial vasculitis, raynaud‟s phenomenon, striae distensae, mucinous carcinoma, porokeratosis, clear cell acanthoma, angioma serpiginosum, solitary angiokeratoma, fibroepithelioma of Pinkus, bowen disease, actinic keratosis, sebaceous hyperplasia, scabies, pediculosis and vitiligo. D