Novel ultraviolet-dermoscopy: Early diagnosis and activity evaluation of vitiligo

Abstract

Background/objective: Polarized dermoscopy, Wood's lamp, and reflectance confocal microscopy were currently commonly used auxiliary technology in vitiligo clinic diagnosis. To improve the efficiency and accuracy of different periods of lesions of vitiligo, we used a novel ultraviolet (UV)-dermoscopy (Model CH-UVDS30, Ultraviolet wavelength range of 360<390nm, Chuanghong Science and Technology Company, China) in clinical observation.

Materials and methods: Three cases of different periods of vitiligo patients were included in this study. Polarised dermoscopy and novel UV-dermoscopy (UV wavelength range of 360 nm < λ < 390 nm) were performed at 20 × magnification in polarized and UV modes. Characteristic manifestations of different periods of vitiligo lesions were captured and compared.

Results: The depigmented and pigmented junctional zone and perifollicular pigmentation areas could be easier and simultaneously identified via UV-dermoscopy. In a progressive vitiligo patient (woman, 42 years old, face) enhanced perifollicular pigmentation and blurred border were clearly observed. In a stable vitiligo patient (man, 27 years old, right foot) sharply demarcated border and perifollicular depigmentation could be found. In a re-pigmenting vitiligo patient (woman, 41 years old, neck) telangiectasias and pigmentation reservoirs were observed.

Conclusion: Novel UV-dermoscopy, as a miniature and portable device, might help early diagnosis, active/progress judgment, and treatment effect evaluation of vitiligo in the clinic.

Keywords: accurate assessment; diagnosis; ultraviolet-dermoscopy; vitiligo.

FIGURE 1

Vitiligo; progressive lesion (woman, 42 years old, face). Ultraviolet (UV) light dermoscopy (×20) enhances contrast in perifollicular pigmentation (orange circle) than the polarised dermoscopy (×20) and shows blurred borders (red arrow).

FIGURE 2

Vitiligo; stable lesion (man, 27 years old, right foot). Ultraviolet (UV) light dermoscopy (×20) delineates stable vitiligo with the sharply demarcated border (black arrow) and perifollicular depigmentation (black circle) better than polarised dermoscopy (×20).

FIGURE 3

Vitiligo; re‐pigmenting lesion (woman, 41 years old, neck). Reservoirs of pigmentation (orange arrow) and telangiectasias showing enhancement under UV light (× 20, red arrow).