Basic Dermoscopy for the Resident

Dermoscopy is a valuable and highly diagnostic tool for evaluating skin lesions. Most dermatology residency programs teach dermoscopy and have expert clinicians available. If you find yourself in a program where dermoscopy is not taught, there are easy-to-attend conferences and Web sites as well as books that teach dermoscopy. Disease-specific features have been described for a number of dermatologic conditions including rashes, infections, and infestations. Dermoscopy's most published and salient application is its utility in evaluating pigmented lesions and identifying nonmelanoma skin cancers. Before leaving residency, proficiency in the dermoscopic diagnosis of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) should be achieved. The focus of this article is to review the most common dermoscopic findings of each of these lesions.