Dermatoscopy

Dermatoscopy: what is it and how is it used in dermatology?

Dermatoscopy is a skin examination method that allows you to study in detail the structure and condition of the surface layers of the skin in high magnification. This method is used in dermatology to diagnose the initial stages of skin diseases, such as melanomas, basal cell carcinomas, keratoses, pityriasis rosea and others.

Dermatoscopy is carried out using a dermatoscope - a special device that allows you to obtain an image of the skin on an enlarged scale. A dermatoscope consists of an optical system, a light guide and a lens, which allows you to magnify the image of the skin up to 10-30 times. Recently, digital dermatoscopes have become increasingly used, which allow images to be stored and analyzed using a computer program.

Dermatoscopy is an uncommon research method that requires certain skills and knowledge in the field of dermatology. However, thanks to this method, dermatologists can accurately diagnose skin diseases at an early stage, which increases the effectiveness of treatment and increases the chances of a full recovery.

During dermatoscopy, the dermatologist looks at various features such as the shape, color, size and texture of skin lesions. For example, when diagnosing melanoma, a dermatologist looks for asymmetry in shape, uneven edges, discoloration and diameter. These signs may indicate the presence of a malignant tumor.

Dermatoscopy is also used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for skin diseases. After treatment, the dermatologist performs repeated dermatoscopy to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and track the dynamics of changes in skin formations.

In conclusion, dermatoscopy is an important research method in dermatology, which allows diagnosing skin diseases at an early stage and monitoring the effectiveness of treatment. However, performing dermatoscopy requires certain skills and knowledge in the field of dermatology, so this research method should only be carried out by highly qualified specialists.

Dermatoscopy (from the ancient Greek words “derma” - skin and “skopeo” - look, observe) is a non-invasive method for examining the skin, allowing you to visualize its surface structures.

The essence of the method is to examine skin formations using an optical device - a dermatoscope. A dermatoscope is a special microscope with x10 magnification and a light source that allows you to examine the structure of the skin in detail.

The main purpose of dermatoscopy is the diagnosis of melanocytic skin neoplasms, such as moles and melanoma. The method allows us to identify the characteristic structural features of these formations, which significantly increases the accuracy of diagnosis. In addition, dermatoscopy is used to diagnose non-melanocytic neoplasms of the skin, infectious diseases, hair and nails.

Thus, dermatoscopy is an effective non-invasive method for visualizing the surface structures of the skin, widely used in dermatology for clarifying diagnostics. The use of dermatoscopy can improve the quality of diagnosis of skin diseases.