Dermoscopy of skin infestations and infections (entomodermoscopy) – Part I: dermatozoonoses and bacterial infections

Abstract

Dermoscopy is an essential in vivo diagnostic technique in the clinical evaluation of skin tumors. Currently, the same can also be said about its implications when approaching different clinical situations in Dermatology. A growing number of reports on dermatological scenarios and diseases have been published, in which dermoscopy has been of great diagnostic help. The term “entomodermoscopy” was coined to describe dermoscopic findings in skin infestations and also in dermatoses of infectious etiology. In part I of this article, the main dermoscopic descriptions of zoodermatoses and bacterial infections will be addressed. In many of them, such as scabies, pediculosis, myiasis, and tungiasis, it is possible to identify the pathogen and, consequently, attain the diagnosis more quickly and use the technique to follow-up therapeutic effectiveness. In other situations that will be described, dermoscopy can allow the observation of clinical findings with greater detail, rule out differential diagnoses, and increase the level of confidence in a clinical suspicion.

Dermoscopy of Bacterial, Viral, and Fungal Skin Infections: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a chronic granulomatous disorder caused by Mycobacterium leprae and typified by a wide clinical spectrum ranging from paucibacillary tuberculoid pole to multibacillary lepromatous pole [ 5 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Syphilis is an infectious disorder caused by Treponema pallidum , usually transmitted through sexual contact that is characterized by a variable clinical presentation [ 5 ]. Dermoscopy has been found to be helpful in facilitating the recognition of several types of syphilitic lesions (Fig.…”

“…Bacterial folliculitis typically presents as papulopustular eruption and is most commonly due to Staphylococcus aureus , yet pseudomonas folliculitis is also frequently seen in daily practice as edematous papular/papulopustular lesions resulting from direct contact with contaminated water [ 5 , 42 , 43 ]. Dermoscopic features of staphylococcal folliculitis was investigated in 55 patients in a prospective study, and central round pustules with peripheral sparse dotted vessels were the main finding [ 42 ].…”

“…Trichobacteriosis is a superficial bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium species (mainly C. flavescens ) presenting as yellow, black, or red concretions attached to axillary or pubic hair shafts [ 5 ]. Several studies investigated dermoscopic features of this condition and found waxy white-yellowish concretions adherent along the entire length of hair shafts to be the typical feature; various configuration of such concretions have been reported, including flame, skewer, brush-like or plume appearance (Fig.…”

Dermoscopy of skin parasitoses, bites and stings: a systematic review of the literature

“…Over the last few years, several papers focusing on dermoscopic aspects of cutaneous parasitoses, bites and stings ('entodermoscopy') have been published in the literature, yet such data are sparse and often result from studies lacking a systematic analytical approach. Albeit some narrative reviews on the topic do exist, [2][3][4] there is no systematic review analysis.…”