Dermatoscopy: An overview of subsurface morphology

Within the past two decades, an exponential number of publications have emerged on the topic of dermatoscopy, most, if not all, reporting the benefits of using a dermatoscope. Dermatoscopy has been promoted to be useful in diagnosing not only pigmented skin lesions but also a wide range of skin conditions that are infectious, hamartomatous, and inflammatory in nature. Whether or not dermatoscopy truly has a relevant diagnostic role in such a wide range of skin conditions remains to be proven. The diagnostic technique, however, has fundamentally changed the way pigmented lesions are evaluated by dermatologists, as it offers a more methodical and disciplined approach to evaluate them. This review highlights the contribution of dermatoscopy with respect to morphologic characterization and evaluation of pigmented skin lesions.