Dermoscopy of Dermatofibroma

A dermatofibroma is a common benign bump in the skin.Dermatofibroma is usually harmless and typically appears on the lower legs. Dermatofibroma is easily mistaken from other skin tumors due to its appearance. This brings much difficult to diagnose. Hence, how to exactly diagnose dermatofibroma is special important to dermatology filed.

What is dermatofibroma?
Dermatofibroma, also known as benign fibrous histiocytoma, is a type of benign growth of skin. It usually occur on the legs of adults, and it may also occur on arms, chest, elbow and upper back. Dermatofibroma can happen on anywhere on the body. Even though dermatofibroma is harmless and painless, but sometimes it’s itchy or tender. The exactly causes of dermatofibroma is not identified, but dermatofibroma is commonly caused by slight skin trauma, such as insect bites or scratches. Dermatofibroma usually appears as a small, hard bump on the skin that varies in color from pink to brown or black.

Why is dermoscopy needed for the diagnosis of dermatofibroma?
Dermatofibroma is a harmless and painless skin lesion, while it may erupt over a few months when people are in low immune system or have autoimmune diseases.Hence it is crucial to adopt dermoscopy to help for diagnosis. In our daily life, paying more attention to dermatofibroma is very necessary.

Dermatoscope is a very useful aiding device for skin doctors to detect and diagnose skin diseases, such as dermatofibroma. Dermatoscope combines a powerful optical system and big magnification to greatly increase the visual ranges and depth of the skin. It allows skin doctors inspect more details of structures, patterns and changes of skin lesion that is invisible for naked eyes. The using of dermatoscopy can reduce the unnecessary worry and surgery or biopsy.

What are dematoscopic features of dermatofibroma?
By using of dermoscopy, dermatofibroma is easily to diagnose due to brightened visual sights. Even signs in individuals are in vary, but the main typical features included like below:
Central white area: The central white area appears pale and amorphous, resembling a scar or resembling a plaque. The central white area occasionally has bright white linear stripes.
False network: The faint pigment network surrounding the central white region may sometimes resemble a network or “ring” spherical structure. The “ring” spherical structure is surrounded by white lines.
White lines and brown holes: White lines and brown holes may appear in the central white area (negative network).
Delicate pigment Network: Delicate pigment network with light to medium brown pigmentation. This network is usually located on the periphery of the lesion and gradually disappears into the surrounding skin.
Vascular structures: The most common vascular structures are punctate vessels, comma vessels, erythema, and hairpin vessels.

Treatment methods of dermatofibroma
Dermatofibromas are small, harmless growths that appear on the skin. Dermatofibromas are benign lesion of skin. Most of dermatofibromas are painless, and they do not cause obvious symptoms. Hence dermatofibromas generally do not require treatment. However, if need to remove dermatofibroma considering of aesthetic factors, the following treatment methods can be taken:
Surgical removal: If the dermatofibromas cause discomfort or affect aesthetics looks, the lesion part of the skin can be surgically removed.
Steroid injections: Local corticosteroid injections may be used to reduce pain or reduce the extent of the lesion.
Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen or other refrigerants can be used to freeze the growth of dermatofibroma, which helps to flatten them.
Laser treatment: Laser surgery can also be used to destroy the lesion part of dermatofibroma and encourage the growth of new growth.
Conservative treatment: Keep the lesion parts clean, and keep away from friction or irritation.

Dermatofibroma Dermoscopy in public self-examination
Dermoscopy is a reliable and useful aiding technique usually used by skin doctors at hospital or clinical for skin inspection. Dermoscopy is commenly designed into a handheld tool conveniently to hold by people. Except for that, skin doctors can take high definition pictures by dermoscopy combining with smart phone or tablet or camera for analysis and comparison. In professional hands, it is easy to detect dermatofibroma. People also can observe their dermatofibroma by themselves. When people use dermoscopy in self-examination, there are some factors in needed, such as:
Firstly, read and understand the function and uses of dermoscopy, then correctly operate dermoscopy.
Secondly, when use dermoscopy, keeping observations is very important.
Thirdly, any suspicious lesions are found by dermoscopy, it is necessary to have further checked by professional doctors in time and promptly.
Fourthly, after dermatofibroma detected or diagnosed by professional doctors, people should cooperate with doctors for suggestion and treatment in case it will relapse again.

Dermoscopy in the diagnosis of dermatofibroma
Dermatoscopy plays a very important role in the detection and diagnosis of skin lesions, the same as dermatofibroma. It is better to observe dermatofibroma regularly and timely by dermoscopy. There are certain advantages to use dermoscopy in the diagnosis of dermatofibroma include:
Observe conveniently: It is convenient to observe the lump if any changes at any place any time, even people can use dermoscopy for self-examination at home.
Supply More details:It is very clear and precise to find if the lesions worsen or become malignant through details of patterns, structures and vessels under the dermatoscopy.
Monitoring the treatment: Dermoscopy, as a monitor, can navigate the skin doctor to cure dermatofibroma.
Give feedback:Dermoscopy can give feedback of treatment on dermatofibroma in time. So that skin doctor will make an adjustment or a further step on it.

Other notes about dermatofibroma
Even a dermatofibroma is harmless and no need to cure. But when larger numbers of dermatofibromas are present, it may indicate an underlying condition will present, such as lupus or a weakened immune system, such as from leukemia or HIV. So accurate detection and diagnosis of dermatofbroma is really significant.

It is very helpful to use dermoscopy in the detection and diagnosis of dermatofibroma.Under the help of dermoscopy, it becomes more easily and conviently in these aspects, like observation and analysis, treatment, monitoring and feedback of dermatofibroma. In addition, skin doctors and patients become more confident and safety by using of the dermoscopy.
Hence it is necessary to use dermoscopy in right ways. Any suspicious findings, do not hesitate to ask skin doctors’ help. In daily life, people should keep regular skin examination in case of skin lesions and pay more attention to self-examination of dermatofibroma regularly.