Dermatoscopes

A dermatoscope is a medical instrument used to examine skin during the practice of dermoscopy or dermatoscopy. When using a dermatoscope, a medical professional can examine the skin using skin surface microscopy, to examine pigmented lesions, moles, freckles and even diagnose suspected melanoma. The components of a dermatoscope consists of a magnifier (usually x 10), a transparent plate, non-polarised light source, and a liquid medium. The two most common types of Dermatoscopes are cross-polarised and oil immersion (non-polarised). Dermatoscopes are used by dermatologists, GPs, nurses, plastic surgeons, skin specialists, cancer specialists, cosmetic camouflage advisers, radiologists and medical students.