Abstract

The term inflammoscopy merely implies trichoscopic distinctive features of inflammatory skin conditions; the common ones along with some rare ones, to demonstrate the usefulness, and to ease our understanding and help conclude if possible, aiding and supporting the diagnosis when it is equivocal. Previously, it was termed dermoscopy. It entailed an optical device that is used to detect skin malignancy promptly. It is also used to analyse inflammatory skin disorders and as a supportive tool in various non-neoplastic dermatoses such as inflammatory, infiltrative, and infectious diseases, however; it doesn’t follow a standardised approach. It is non-invasive, easy to apply, and allows visualization of the epidermis, dermo-epidermal junction, and papillary dermis, in vivo magnification of the skin which cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Dermoscopy employs a ×10 to ×100 microscopic visualisation with a light source to magnify the structures under the skin’s surface. There are three kinds of dermoscopy: namely, conventional nonpolarized dermoscopy, nonpolarized contact dermoscopy, and polarized contact dermoscopy. Many dermoscopic structures have a high degree of correspondence with pathognomonic histopathologic features (64).

The dermatoscope is considered the dermatologist’s stethoscope and is an economic tool, yet data on the skill of colour is still limited and is a challenge. Histology is the cutting edge method to learn about the underlying issues, but requires a biopsy. Thus, applying trichoscopy features with the clinical findings can be sufficient to establish the right diagnosis without the need for a biopsy. Nonetheless, dermoscopy requires special training and experience.

Keywords: Dermoscopy, trichoscopy, inflammoscopy, inflammation, skin