Dermoscopic Features and Their Diagnostic Values Among Common Inflammatory and Infectious Dermatoses: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Dermoscopy is a non-invasive tool widely used to improve the diagnostic accuracy of general dermatological conditions.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the dermoscopic features and their diagnostic value in distinguishing common inflammatory and infectious dermatoses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients clinically diagnosed with common inflammatory or infectious skin diseases. Baseline characteristics and clinical and dermoscopic findings were recorded. Dermoscopic variables were analyzed using a correlation matrix. A skin biopsy was performed for each patient for a definitive diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of 102 patients, 43 with dermatitis, 30 with psoriasis, 14 with lichen planus (LP), 5 with pityriasis rosea (PR), and 10 with others were included. Dull red background, patchy vessels, and scales showed significant positive correlations with dermatitis ( = 0.401, 0.488, and 0.327, respectively; p < 0.01), whereas bright red background, glomerular vessels, regular vascular distribution, and diffuse scales revealed significant positive correlations with psoriasis ( = 0.412, 0.266, 0.798, and 0.401, respectively; p < 0.01). For LP, whitish reticulate structures, purplish background, and dotted vessels mixed with linear vessels in the peripheral distribution were significantly positively correlated (r = 0.831, 0.771, 0.224, and 0.558, respectively; p < 0.05). Yellowish background and peripheral scales were predictive of PR diagnosis ( = 0.254 and 0.583, respectively; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Dermoscopy can be used as an adjunctive tool to differentiate conditions among common inflammatory and infectious dermatoses in order to minimize unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures.