What should you look for when choosing a dermatoscope?

A dermatoscope is more than just a light source

For many years, dermatoscopy has been a fundamental diagnostic tool in dermatology, dermato-oncology, and family medicine. As the importance of skin cancer prevention grows, so do the expectations for the equipment used in daily patient care.

The choice of a dermatoscope should not be limited solely to comparing the price or appearance of the device. Different models vary in image quality, lighting, documentation capabilities, and ergonomic design. These features can have a real impact on both the comfort of the examination and diagnostic effectiveness.

The quality of the optics is crucial

The optical system remains the most important component of any dermatoscope.

High-quality lenses provide a clear, high-contrast image of skin structures, which facilitates the assessment of pigmented, vascular, and neoplastic lesions. Even the best lighting cannot compensate for the limitations caused by lower-quality optics.

When choosing a device, it’s worth paying attention to:

• the quality of the lenses used,
• level of image distortion,
• color reproduction,
• uniformity of the field of view,
• optical resolution.

An example of a device in which particular emphasis has been placed on image quality is the Illuco IDS-9100. Thanks to its advanced optical system and high-quality detail rendering, it is used in both routine dermatology and more demanding dermato-oncological diagnostics.

Polarized, Unpolarized, and UV Light—Why Does It Matter?

One of the most important features of a modern dermatoscope is the type of lighting it uses. Different types of light reveal different skin structures, which is why more and more doctors are paying attention to the ability to switch between different imaging modes.

Unpolarized light

Classic contact dermatoscopy using unpolarized light allows for a very accurate assessment of the superficial structures of the epidermis and the dermo-epidermal junction.

This imaging method is particularly valued when evaluating:

• the chromatic network,
• sebaceous cysts,
• corneal pseudocysts,
• superficial structures of birthmarks.

In many cases, it remains an indispensable part of routine dermatoscopic diagnosis.

Polarized light

Polarized light allows for the evaluation of deeper skin structures without the need for an immersion fluid.

It helps highlight:

• vascular structures,
• areas of fibrosis,
• shiny white lines,
• characteristics typical of certain skin cancers.

For this reason, most modern dermatoscopes used in dermato-oncology are capable of operating in this mode.

UV Light—An Additional Source of Information

Dermatoscopes equipped with UV light are also becoming increasingly popular.

Another example of such a solution is the Illuco IDS-9100, which, in addition to polarized and unpolarized light, also offers the capability of imaging in ultraviolet light.

UV examination can aid in the assessment of certain skin lesions by revealing fluorescence that is not visible during standard dermatoscopy. In practice, it can provide additional information that is helpful in diagnosing certain pigmentary disorders, selected skin infections, and other dermatological lesions.

Although UV light is not a substitute for conventional dermatoscopy, it serves as an additional diagnostic tool that expands the scope of clinical evaluation.

The more information, the greater the diagnostic flexibility

The ability to switch between unpolarized, polarized, and UV light allows the doctor to view the same lesion from different perspectives.

Therefore, when choosing a dermatoscope, it is important to consider not only the quality of the optics and the magnification, but also the available imaging modes. In everyday practice, these modes often determine the amount of information that can be obtained during a single examination.

Image Magnification and Quality

Although the standard 10× magnification remains the most commonly used option, the image quality obtained when observing fine diagnostic structures is playing an increasingly important role.

In practice, maintaining high image sharpness and contrast is more important than the magnification value itself. The parameter that allows for an objective assessment of “image sharpness” is the optics’ ability to resolve the number of lines per millimeter [LP – Line Pairs]. This directly indicates how many lines per millimeter the device’s optics are capable of resolving. Optical devices are tested using visual test charts. For example, if a dermatoscope has a resolution of 70 LP and we place it against an 80 LP test chart, the individual lines will “blend” into a single line.

A well-designed dermatoscope should provide a clear image across the entire field of view without any loss of detail. It is common practice in optical devices to use larger lenses (optical diameter), which allow for a sharp image only in the center of the frame. This solution increases the weight of the device without providing any real added value.

It’s also important to remember that a larger lens doesn’t mean a wider field of view!

Distortions

In any optical system—defined as an assembly of more than one lens—optical imperfections are particularly noticeable to the user. Selecting appropriate, high-quality lenses is crucial for accurate image reproduction. Devices featuring high-quality optics have minimized distortions resulting from the use of magnifying lenses. The parameter describing this characteristic is distortion, expressed as a percentage. The lower the distortion, the better the reproduction of shapes.

That is precisely why experienced users often pay more attention to the quality of the optics than to the magnification specified by the manufacturer.

Documentation and Digital Image Management

Modern dermatology increasingly relies on comparing changes over time.

For this reason, it is worth noting that the dermatoscope can be used in conjunction with:

• image archiving systems,
• electronic patient records,
• tools that support the monitoring of changes,
• solutions that use artificial intelligence.

The ability to quickly create photographic records makes it easier to monitor patients and facilitates communication with other specialists.

An example of a solution that fits this trend is Magnos. It is a modern digital dermatoscope equipped with image documentation features and supported by artificial intelligence algorithms. This allows doctors not only to conduct examinations but also to easily archive results, analyze changes, and compare images during follow-up visits.

Digital dermatoscopy is becoming an increasingly important part of modern dermatological workflows.

Long-term patient monitoring

For patients with numerous moles or an increased risk of developing skin cancer, a single examination is often not sufficient.

It is becoming increasingly important to be able to track changes that occur between visits and to compare records created at different intervals.

In such situations, body mapping systems — such as the IntelliStudio videodermatoscope— are used to perform standardized documentation of the entire body. This enables more effective monitoring of high-risk patients and faster detection of new or changing skin lesions.

Monitoring changes over time is becoming one of the most important aspects of modern dermato-oncology today.

Ergonomics in Everyday Work

A dermatoscope is a device that is used multiple times every day. Therefore, ease of use is much more important than one might think.

Before making a purchase, it’s a good idea to consider:

• the weight of the device,
• how to use it,
• battery life,
• ease of disinfection,
• availability of accessories and replacement parts.

Even the best technical specifications won’t be fully utilized if the device turns out to be uncomfortable to use in everyday work.

System expandability

More and more clinics are expanding their dermatological diagnostic capabilities to include new technologies, such as digital dermatoscopy, videodermatoscopy, and body mapping.

That is why it is worth checking whether the dermatoscope you choose can become part of a larger diagnostic ecosystem and integrate with other solutions used in your practice.

This approach helps better meet the facility’s future needs and reduce the costs associated with future system expansion.

How do I choose a dermatoscope?

There is no single dermatoscope that would be the ideal solution for every doctor and every medical facility.

In addition to technical specifications, optical quality, and documentation capabilities, it is also important to consider your own clinical practice profile.

Doctors seeking the highest-quality imaging often turn to solutions such as Illuco IDS-9100, which combine high-end optics with the ability to operate in cross-polarized, linearly polarized, and UV light. Specialists interested in digital documentation and the use of artificial intelligence in their daily practice may want to consider Magnos, while centers monitoring high-risk patients are increasingly turning to solutions such as the Canfield IntelliStudio, Canfield D2, and Canfield VEOS, which enable standardized full-body documentation.

Therefore, the choice of a dermatoscope should always be based on a combination of technical specifications and actual clinical needs. It is precisely this alignment of the device with daily practice that allows one to take full advantage of the capabilities of modern dermatoscopy.

Because the best dermatoscope isn’t the one with the most impressive technical specifications, but the one that best meets the needs of the doctor and their patients.