Dermatoscopy is an examination used to assess pigmented naevi, commonly known as moles. This method increases the chance of detecting melanoma at a very early stage of development, when this cancer can be cured easily. In addition, dermatoscopy makes it easier to distinguish malignant melanoma from other, harmless skin lesions. The examination makes it possible to differentiate dysplastic, junctional and compound pigmented naevi, blue naevi, Reed (Spitz-type) naevi, haemangiomas, seborrhoeic keratoses, haemorrhagic lesions and pigmented basal cell carcinoma.
Dermatoscopy / dermoscopy is a microscopic examination of the skin: painless, non-invasive and requiring no biopsies, it consists of viewing selected skin lesions with a dermatoscope.
Dermoscopic examination makes it possible to view the skin at several dozen times magnification and with side lighting / illuminating the surface being examined /, which produces a "three-dimensional image" of the skin and reveals deeper structures of the epidermis.
Videodermatoscopy is also widely used in dermatology. It is a computer analysis of naevi which allows a lesion to be observed under high magnification, the photo / image / to be archived and the previous examination to be compared with the current one. This is particularly important when examining people who have many pigmented naevi. If a naevus has grown or changed in any way, a decision is sometimes made to remove it prophylactically. That is why it is always worth having videodermatoscopy performed at the same dermatology practice, so that naevi can be compared with those already in the database.
Dermatoscopy gives an approximately 95% chance that a small, developing melanoma will be detected early. Lesions may appear on the skin that do not meet all the dermatoscopic criteria for melanoma but are nevertheless concerning because of certain characteristic features. Such naevi are usually removed prophylactically.
The price of a dermatoscopic examination of pigmented naevi depends on the number of pigmented naevi and ranges from PLN 150 to 350.
People at increased risk of developing cutaneous melanoma should undergo regular examination with a dermoscope:
- people with a hereditary predisposition / a family history of cutaneous melanoma,
- people who have had sunburn in the past,
- people with fair skin,
- people with numerous pigmented naevi of various colours, shapes and sizes,
- people frequently exposed to the sun who do not use sunscreen,
- people who frequently use sunbeds.
A dermatoscopic examination should be performed for any worrying pigmented lesion.
Always when: the lesion is unevenly coloured, asymmetrical, grows quickly, has irregular borders, is scaly, itches, bleeds or changes quickly.
It is essential to observe your skin carefully and regularly so that you can contact a dermatologist if you have any doubts.