Use of Dermoscopy in Podiatry
Dermoscopy (also called dermatoscopy) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that uses magnification and polarized or non-polarized light to visualize skin and nail structures not visible to the naked eye. In podiatry, it is increasingly used to evaluate conditions affecting the nails, plantar skin, and pigmented lesions of the foot.
DERMOSCOPY CAN HELP RECOGNISE FEATURES OF BENIGN AND MALIGNANT LESIONS.
Why It Matters in Podiatry
The feet are frequently affected by trauma, pressure, infection, and chronic disease. Many nail and skin conditions appear similar clinically, and dermoscopy improves diagnostic accuracy by revealing subsurface patterns.
Benefits
- Enhances differential diagnosis of foot and toenail conditions
- Helps detect melanoma and other skin cancers earlier
- Reduces unnecessary referrals or biopsies
- Assists in monitoring lesion changes over time
Advantages for Podiatrists
- Quick, painless, and repeatable
- Useful in community clinics, diabetes care, and high-risk patient groups
- Supports early detection of serious pathology (skin cancer)
Benign melanocytic naevus (common mole)
Figure 1Dermoscopic appearance
Acral-lentiginous melanoma (malignant form of skin cancer)
Figure 2 Dermoscopic appearance
Actinic keratosis (considered a precancerous skin lesion, not a malignant one, meaning it is benign but has the potential to turn into skin cancer over time)
Squamous cell carcinoma (malignant)
Melanoma
Periungual fibroma
Seborrheic keratosis
Plantar wart
