Preventing cross-infection during polarized dermoscopy using hand held dermoscopes

• DOI: 10.4103/idoj.idoj_148_19
• Publication Date: 2019-07-05T10:18:34Z
• Authors: Feroze Kaliyadan; Puravoor Jayasree
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Dermatology Pearls

Problem Faced Cross-infection is a problem with contact dermoscopy in the context of infectious dermatoses. Various methods have been suggested to avoid cross-infection during dermoscopy.[1] Most hand-held polarized dermoscopes come option removing plate for dermoscopy. This allows better visualization some structures, especially vascular which might be otherwise affected because pressure and reduces chance only rim skin surface. However, itself can source cross-infection. Solution Proposed We used readily available plastic cap bottle commercially bottled drinking water modified it use as protector [Figure 1a]. The applied after plate. outer groove provides snug fit dermoscope ensures that viewing distance not ensure good focus 1b-d]. Bottle caps different sizes are easy obtain according size sterilized easily. Another alternate method transparent sheet cut hole middle, less than diameter [Figures 2 3]. Incidentally, there recent report mentioning 50 cc syringe, serve spacer procedures like dermoscopy-guided biopsies.[2] would propose same another control 4].Figure 1: (a) Plastic cap, central area removed. (b) Hand held – Dermlite II pro HR, (c) Cap fitted over dermoscope. (d) Dermoscopy using deviceFigure 2: Thin rimFigure 3: Polarized placed sheetFigure 4: Using syringe spacerFinancial support sponsorship Nil. Conflicts interest There no conflicts interest.