The Dermatoscope for Skin Examination in Dermatology
The dermatoscope is a medical diagnostic instrument used in dermatology to perform thorough examinations of a patient's skin (dermoscopy). This medical device often uses illumination and a lens with special optics to view the skin under magnification in order to provide information on signs of cancer, such as melanoma. A dermatologist will use this device for skin cancer prevention, early recognition and screening with the most common use being diagnostic observation of moles for possible melanoma. A dermoscopy device typically consists of an illumination source (halogen bulb or LEDs) combined with a microscopic lens for magnification of the lesion and a contact plate; it also comes in various versions thereof, e.g., a pocket dermascope.