Lidia Rudnicka (editor) - Atlas of Trichoscopy: Dermoscopy in Hair and Scalp Disease

Dr . Borkowska performing trichoscopy with a handheld dermoscope . Any handheld dermoscope may be used to perform trichoscopy. It does not require any additional lenses or parts. You may use your dermoscope just as you would for diagnosing melanoma

Dr . Borkowska performing trichoscopy with a digital dermoscope ( videodermoscope ). A digital dermoscope (videodermoscope) has the benefit of better working comfort, higher magnification, and easy photography. It is, however, more time consuming and expensive. Thus, it rarely is used in clinical practice. The old term videodermoscopy refers to dermoscopy performed with a digital dermoscope

Examples of equipment that may be used to perform trichoscopy . Trichoscopy may be performed with ( a ) handheld dermoscopes, ( b ) basic digital dermoscopes and photographic equipment, or ( c ) advanced digital dermoscopes. Handheld dermoscopes may be divided into three groups: contact dermoscopes, polarized light contact dermoscopes, and polarized light noncontact dermoscopes. Also available are handheld dermoscopes that work in either the contact or noncontact mode; these are known as hybrid dermoscopes. Which device to choose is a matter of individual preference; there is no preferred type of dermoscope for performing hair and scalp examinations. The standard magnification of handheld dermoscopes is 10; the cost varies between about US $700 and US $1,800 ( a ). New devices on the market include simplified digital dermoscopes that may be connected to a computer (e.g., via USB) and kits allowing one to connect selected handheld dermoscopes to a regular photo camera or to an iPhone 4/4S. They are a good solution for dermatologists who like to take trichoscopic photographs in their daily practice. The usual magnification is 10 to 80, depending on the device. Although higher magnifications may be possible, they usually are not sufficiently supported by the light source of the equipment currently available. The price of these devices varies between US $400 and US $2,000 (not including the computer, camera, or iPhone) ( b ). The large, expensive digital dermoscopes (videodermoscopes) allow one to take high-magnification, high-quality photographs. The price of these devices varies significantly, depending on the presence or absence of software, which is not necessary for trichoscopy. Most companies now offer these devices with laptops instead of full-size computers. This type of digital dermoscope offers multiple magnifications in the range of 20 to 70 (or 100) and higher. The price varies from about US $10,000 to about US $20,000 ( c ). These images show examples of dermoscopes available on the market when we were writing this chapter ( Courtesy of 3Gen LLC, San Juan Capistrano, CA; AnMo Electronics Corp., New Taipei City, Taiwan; Bechtold & Co, Lodz, Poland; Consultronix S.A., Krakow, Poland; Delasco Dermatologic Lab & Supply, Inc, Council Bluffs, IA; Derma Medical Systems GmbH, Vienna, Austria; DermoScan GmbH, Regensburg, Germany; FotoFinder Systems GmbH; Medit Inc., Winnipeg, MB, Canada; IDCP B.V., Naarden, The Netherlands; Schuco International Ltd., London, UK.)