Dermatoscopy in skin of colour

The Dermatoscopy in Skin of Colour course provides comprehensive guidance on identifying and managing skin conditions in patients with skin types IV to VI. Delivered by Dr. Trilokraj Tejasvi, the course offers a focused approach to understanding the nuances of dermatoscopy in darker skin tones.

The course covers the following key topics and clinical insights:
- Introduction to Skin of Colour and Dermoscopy:
- Explore the unique features of melanin distribution, including the ratio of eumelanin to pheomelanin, and its impact on dermoscopic visibility in darker skin.
- Understand the limitations and challenges of visualising deeper structures due to increased keratinocyte layers and melanin density.
- Benign and Malignant Tumours:
- Recognise common benign lesions such as seborrheic keratosis, dermatofibroma, and nevi with their specific patterns, including reticular global and blue-grey structures.
- Identify malignant lesions like melanoma, emphasising patterns such as irregular networks, parallel ridge patterns in acral lentiginous melanoma, and concerning vascular structures.
- Inflammatory Dermatoses:
- Learn to distinguish between psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus, and discoid lupus erythematosus based on colour patterns, vascular features, and scaling observed under the dermatoscope.
- Contrast these features with presentations in lighter skin types to improve diagnostic accuracy.
- Pigmentary Disorders:
- Examine hypopigmented conditions like vitiligo and tinea versicolor, with attention to features such as perifollicular scaling and Micro-Koebner phenomena.
- Understand hyperpigmented disorders like melasma, ochronosis, lichen planus pigmentosus, and ashy dermatosis, focusing on their dermoscopic characteristics such as reticular patterns and pigmentation sparing eccrine and follicular orifices.
- Clinical Applications and Practical Tips:
- Learn practical diagnostic tools like the ink furrow test for acral lesions and checklists like the BRAAFF scoring system for melanoma in skin of colour.
- Gain insights into context-driven diagnosis, leveraging patient history, lesion location, and changes over time to guide clinical decisions.

This course emphasises evidence-based practice, providing healthcare professionals with the tools to improve diagnostic accuracy and outcomes for patients with skin of colour. With real-world examples and expert guidance, participants will be equipped to manage dermatological challenges with confidence and precision.