TLDR About half of Taiwanese dermatologists use dermoscopy, mainly to improve diagnosis and detect cancer early, but cost and lack of training limit its wider use.
In a 2015 survey of 195 Taiwanese dermatologists, 51.8% reported using dermoscopy in their practice, and 62.1% had attended training courses for the technique. Dermoscopy was primarily used for examining pigmented lesions, hair and scalp disorders, nail lesions, and cutaneous infections, with the main reasons being to increase diagnostic confidence and accuracy, facilitate early cancer detection, and reduce biopsy numbers. The use of dermoscopy was significantly associated with demographic factors such as being female, younger, having fewer clinic hours, and possessing training and educational materials. Despite the benefits, 48.2% did not use dermoscopy, mainly due to lack of training, cost, and skepticism about its impact on clinical decision-making. The study highlighted the growing acceptance of dermoscopy among Taiwanese dermatologists and suggested that more accessible training and lower costs could encourage wider adoption.
66 citations
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February 2013 in “Pediatric Dermatology” Dermoscopy improves diagnosis and treatment monitoring for children's skin infections, inflammations, and hair disorders.
245 citations
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March 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Dermatoscopy is useful for identifying different hair and scalp conditions and can reduce the need for biopsies.
157 citations
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June 2011 Dermatoscopy and videodermatoscopy are useful for diagnosing and monitoring various skin, hair, and nail conditions.
39 citations
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December 2008 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Dermoscopy has improved skin cancer diagnosis and has expanding applications in dermatology, but requires staying updated with new research and techniques.
7 citations
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December 2008 in “Expert Review of Dermatology” The document concludes that various childhood hair and nail disorders exist, some may improve on their own, and advances in genetics and immunology could enhance treatment and counseling.
June 2018 in “The Medical Journal of Cairo University/The Medical Journal of Cairo University” Dermoscopy can quickly and reliably distinguish Tinea Capitis from Alopecia Areata by identifying specific hair patterns.
157 citations
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June 2011 Dermatoscopy and videodermatoscopy are useful for diagnosing and monitoring various skin, hair, and nail conditions.
November 2019 in “Harper's Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology” Understanding normal hair growth and loss in children is key to diagnosing and treating hair disorders.
30 citations
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September 2009 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Dermoscopy has greatly improved the diagnosis of skin lesions and our understanding of their morphology and biology.
