Dermatoskopiaa

Dermatoskopiaa is the Finnish term for dermoscopy, a noninvasive diagnostic technique used to examine skin lesions with magnification and specialized illumination. Performed with a handheld dermatoscope or digital imaging system, the method reveals subsurface pigment patterns and vascular structures not visible to the naked eye, aiding differentiation between benign lesions and those suspicious for malignancy, particularly melanoma.

The examination can be done with polarized or non-polarized light and may use contact (with immersion fluid) or non-contact approaches. Digital dermatoscopy allows image storage and serial monitoring of lesions over time, supporting early detection of change. Dermoscopy is also applied in the assessment of non-pigmented lesions, hair and scalp disorders (trichoscopy), and certain inflammatory or parasitic conditions.

Dermoscopy increases diagnostic accuracy compared with unaided visual inspection and can reduce unnecessary biopsies, but its effectiveness depends on clinician experience and pattern recognition skills. It is an adjunct, not a replacement, for clinical judgment and histopathological examination when a lesion is clinically or dermoscopically suspicious. Training and validated algorithms improve performance, and ongoing developments include teledermatology and artificial intelligence tools to assist interpretation. Limitations include operator dependency, variability in device types, and the need for confirmatory testing when malignancy is suspected.