Dermatoscopy is a modern method of examining the skin, which has become an integral part of the diagnosis of dermatological diseases. The use of dermatoscopes allows doctors to accurately assess the structure of skin formations, which significantly increases the accuracy of the diagnosis.
Dermatoscopes operate using advanced technologies that provide in-depth visual analysis of skin formations. Their work is based on three key elements: a light source, an optical system and specialized filters.
1. Light source
Dermatoscopes use powerful and uniform lighting, in particular LED light sources of different placement geometries, minimizing glare on the skin and ensuring deep penetration of light into the layers of the skin. This produces clear, detailed images that help doctors identify minute changes in skin structures.
2. Optical system
Multilayer optics provide 10-20x magnification, allowing doctors to examine structures invisible to the naked eye. This is critical for the analysis of pigment networks, vascular structures and marginal changes in skin formations.
3. Polarizing filters and contact plates
Polarized light helps doctors avoid glare and analyze deeper layers of the epidermis. Previously, for visualization in polarized mode, a special immersion liquid had to be applied to the skin, however, over time and the technological process, the need for this disappeared, and modern dermatoscopes already have a polarized examination mode in their functionality. The use of contact strips allows the clinician to examine the skin consistently and safely, reducing the risk of spreading infections, especially with non-contact examinations.
A dermatoscope significantly expands the possibilities for diagnosing skin diseases.
1. Detection of melanoma and other malignant neoplasms
Using polarized light technology and high resolution, dermatoscopes help identify asymmetries, color irregularities and structural changes characteristic of melanoma in the early stages.
2. Assessment of benign formations
Dermatoscopes allow physicians to confidently diagnose nevi, keratomas, papillomas and other benign lesions, reducing the need for biopsy.
3. Monitoring the dynamics of changes
Digital documentation adapters allow you to capture high-quality images on mobile devices or DSLR cameras, allowing you to track changes in formations over time.
4. Study of vascular formations
Using dermatoscopes, doctors can study the capillary network, detecting pathologies such as hemangiomas, telangiectasias and other vascular abnormalities.
5. Diagnosis of skin diseases
Dermatoscopy is effective in identifying conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, or fungal infections because of its ability to evaluate the structure of the superficial layers of the skin.
6. Risk forecasting
Thanks to the capabilities of analyzing structures and dynamics, dermatoscopy helps determine the likelihood of transformation of benign formations into malignant ones.
Combined with the doctor’s experience and modern technologies, dermatoscopy becomes one of the most effective non-invasive diagnostic methods in modern medicine. Modern dermatoscopes support integration with digital devices and applications (smartphones, cameras, etc.) to save images and monitor changes over time. The direction of establishing diagnoses based on the introduction of artificial intelligence is now developing.
Heine Optotechnik is a pioneer in creating the first dermatoscope. In 1989, the company introduced the world's first dermatoscope, DELTA 10, which became a real revolution in dermatology. This device provided magnification of up to 10 times without distortion, which significantly increased the accuracy of dermatological examinations of the time. Since the founding of the company in 1946, it has taken a leading position in the production of medical optics. Since then, HEINE Optotechnik has continued to innovate in the field of dermatoscopy, developing new models such as the DELTAOne, DELTA 30, DELTA 30 PRO, the classic DELTA 20T and the pocket-sized, quick-diagnosis mini 3000 LED.
With a constant commitment to improvement and innovation, HEINE Optotechnik remains at the forefront of medical technology, providing doctors and patients with high-quality and effective skin care tools.
One of the latest innovations from HEINE Optotechnik is colorSHIFT technology, which provides four levels of lighting color temperature:
1. Neutral Warm White (5300K): Highlights vascular structures, which is especially useful when studying vascular lesions such as hemangioma or telangiectasia.
2. Neutral Cool White (6500K): Provides natural light to accurately evaluate the pigmentation of skin lesions such as nevi or age spots.
3. Cool White (8300K): Helps analyze the surface structures of the skin in detail, which is useful when studying surface changes or monitoring the dynamics of skin conditions.
4. Blue Cool White (11000 K): Suitable for specialized studies where increased contrast of certain skin structures is required.
Thanks to colorSHIFT technology, doctors can optimize lighting for each specific case, which significantly expands the capabilities of dermatoscopy and increases diagnostic accuracy.
The new HEINE DELTA 30 PRO is equipped with advanced HEINE LED HQ technology, which features a unique LED geometry. Thanks to this, light penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin, forming a three-dimensional 3D image.
Accessories for dermatoscopes
Accessories for dermatoscopes play a key role in ensuring diagnostic accuracy, ease of use and expanding the functionality of devices. A modern arsenal of additional tools allows doctors to carry out diagnostics even in difficult conditions, adapting the technique to the individual needs of patients. Main types of accessories include:
• Smartphone adapters: These allow doctors to capture high-quality images of skin lesions, making it easier to document and monitor changes over time. The adapters are compatible with most modern phones and provide ease of use due to ease of installation and configuration. Such adapters allow doctors to conduct examinations and store images directly on a smartphone, which increases efficiency and ease of access to information.
For example, a universal adapter for a smartphone, compatible with different phone models, allows you to quickly and conveniently connect a dermatoscope to the device, providing high-quality images for further analysis and storage.
• DSLR Camera Adapters: Provides the most accurate, high-resolution photography of skin lesions, ideal for documenting and monitoring changes in skin lesions over time. They provide detailed images that can be stored and compared, which is important for assessing the effectiveness of treatment and identifying potential changes in the skin.
Therefore, it is undeniable that dermatoscopy is a modern, non-invasive method for early detection and monitoring of the skin, which significantly increases the accuracy of diagnosing dermatological and oncological diseases. The use of dermatoscopes allows doctors to evaluate structural changes in detail and identify malignant neoplasms in the early stages.
Modern technologies, such as powerful lighting with a specialized position of each LED, high-quality optics with the possibility of polarized examination, as well as a different arsenal of accessories for deep skin analysis, expand the capabilities of dermatoscopes, making them an indispensable tool in medical practice.
