Dermatoscopy

Dermatoscopy is a new and improvised technique of looking at the skin and its various structures. This is a non-invasive skin surface office procedure which is painless and fast. This technique has been widely used in West for detecting skin cancers. However, due to slightly darker skin types in India, skin cancers are not so common; rather we are bogged by numerous other skin conditions which are of greater health and social concern. Dermoscope, the instrument which is used in this procedure, enables us to recognize finer skin patterns in health and disease. Subtle changes like the distribution of melanin (pigmentation producing granules), hair pores and hairs, blood vessels and other structures in various skin conditions can be recognized much earlier than naked eye clinical examination with this instrument. Hence, dermoscopic examination helps us to arrive at an early diagnosis in many instances and also may mitigate the need for skin biopsy!!