Background: Dermoscopy is well established as a tool to improve the detection of cancerous skin growths. Published data suggest that dermoscopy might be useful in evaluating inflammatory dermatoses and in distinguishing between rashes and skin cancer. Objective: The authors sought to review the published literature regarding use of dermoscopy in the evaluation of inflammatory skin conditions. Methods: Using a systematic approach, the authors performed a literature search using the names of 146 inflammatory dermatoses and pairing each one separately with the search terms dermoscopy, dermatoscopy, and epiluminescence microscopy.Results: After eliminating those papers that did not meet inclusion requirements, the authors identified 201 studies for their review, with the majority consisting of case reports. The most commonly studied inflammatory conditions were psoriasis, lupus, and lichen planus. There was congruence among the studies identified in terms of the most common dermoscopic findings for each of these diseases. Conclusions: The use of dermoscopy in the evaluation of inflammatory dermatoses is a promising option. However, more rigorous studies are needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the dermoscopic findings for many inflammatory skin conditions.
Keywords: Dermoscopy; inflammatory dermatoses; lichen planus; lupus; psoriasis.