We have reviewed the best dermatoscopes for dermatologist and skin cancer specialist, you sure do know how hard it can be to detect melanoma in the initial stages. This is because melanoma, in its initial stages, exhibits characteristics that are quite similar to atypical moles, and thus, their identification with the naked eyes is possible in only 50-75 % of the cases. As such, the diagnosis of melanoma requires the use of dermatoscopy for advanced clinical techniques, the most important one being dermoscopy. Dermoscopy has made it possible for physicians to subcutaneous melanoma even in the early stages with higher accuracy, thus ensuring a better cure for patients.
Contents
Features to Look Before Buying a Dermatoscope
Regardless of whether you want to use the dermatoscopy for personal or professional use, it is important that you get the Best Dermatoscope for your needs. If you have done a bit of research about dermatoscopes, you must have come across many products from different brands. But how to make the final decision about which one to buy? Well, the below dermatoscope reviews following points will help you out:
Size:
This is one of the primary considerations to be made before buying a dermascope. What size would be most suitable for you? If you are planning to use the unit at home or at a clinic, you can easily go for a handheld dermatoscope that is bigger in size and come with many features and facilities. But if you are planning on using the dermascope during home visits, you may consider buying a pocket dermatoscope that you can easily carry along with you when you visit your patients for home checkups.
Polarized or Non-Polarized:
Dermatoscopes can be classified into two categories depending on their working methodology. Non-polarized or contact dermatoscopes require direct contact with the skin surface to be able to visualize the morphology of the skin lesions with the help of the light produced from diodes. On the other hand, a non-contact or polarized dermatoscope can work without coming in direct contact with the skin. Though both types work great at identifying the morphology of any skin lesion or tumor, non-polarized dermatoscopes aren’t effective for identifying structures that are deep-seated, especially those that lie below the dermal-epidermal junction. So, you have to choose a dermatoscope depending on the type of clinical examinations you will need to carry out. Some latest models can offer both functionalities, thus allowing more versatility.
Clear Vision:
Whether you are planning to use the dermatoscope for personal needs or for your clinic, you need to buy one that offers great magnification. The better the zoom capability of the dermatoscope, the finer and sharper will be the picture of the lesion that you get. Clearer and sharper pictures mean better identification of the problem, if there is any.
Mobile Compatible:
Many latest dermascopes are mobile compatible which means they can be mounted onto a mobile phone or tab and then used for examining skin lesions. Such dermatoscopes use the mobile phone camera for imaging purposes and zooms it several times to ensure that you get glare-free, sharp images that can be conveniently used for dermoscopy.
App Compatible:
In present times, it is always useful to use a device that is app compatible. Dermatoscopes that can be directly connected to smartphone apps are an added advantage. They help you streamline work and also enhance the quality of analysis with the use of advanced dedicated software that examines and predicts possible causes and conditions. Not only that, but the data can also be stored and used for future reference. This enhances the quality of examination and treatment.
Additional Features:
Apart from the important factors mentioned above, you should also go for a dermatoscope that offers additional advanced features. These features offer greater convenience of use and better results as well. These include infection control systems, battery indicators, etc. When such additional features are included along with the important basic features, you automatically have the Best Dermatoscope for your use.
Below is the List of Best Dermatoscopes with Reviews
1. 3Gen DermLite IV DL4 Polarized Dermascope w/ PigmentBoost Plus:
Pros:
- 4th gen pocket dermatoscopes
- Comes with 12 polarized and 6 non-polarized LEDs
- 300 mm lens
- Supports liner and cross-polarization
- Enables you to view deeper into pigmentation structures
- Comes with a silicone casing
- USB charging enabled
- Single-button to change operational modes
- Compact and light-weighted design
- Rechargeable lithium battery
- 10 years of warranty
Cons:
- As of now, there haven’t been any reports of any negative points
2. 3Gen DermLite Carbon Dermascope Microscope:
Pros:
- Comes with a button that activates the polarization
- Comes with a belt pouch
- Triplets lens is of 15 mm
- Switches included are really easy to use
- Completely oil-free
Cons:
- As per the Dermatoscope Reviews, there hasn’t been any complaint regarding this product yet
3. NEW! – Mini Pocket dermatoscope Dermascope:
Pros:
- Highly affordable
- Better and efficient result
- High-quality lens
- Comes with 2 contact plates
- Durable and light-weighted head
Cons:
- According to the Dermatoscope Reviews, there haven’t been any issues found in this device
4. 3Gen DermLite DL200 Hybrid Polarized Dermascope:
Since this product inherits most of the best qualities from DL2, it comes with a high-quality optical capability that enables you to check up for skin growth at the early stages and makes it easier for you to detect any problematic growth. One of the negative aspects of using a pocket dermatoscope is the image quality that they produce, but with this device, you do not have to worry about that anymore.
Pros:
- Easy to use and clean
- The Spacer included has a retractable mechanism
- Good quality for the price that you pay
- Compact design
- Compatible with smartphones
- Better battery life compared to other devices in the same category
- Comes with battery charge indicator
- Auto-shutdown system to save battery
- Enables non-contact and contact dermoscopy
- You can switch between non-polarized and polarized modes with just a button
Cons:
- Apart from being costly, there hasn’t been any noted issue by any of the users
5. 3Gen DermLite III DL3N Polarized & Fluid Dermascope w/PigmentBoost:
The DL3N also comes with a spacer that has retractable functionality and a focus mechanism that enables you to switch between the skin contact and non-contact modalities. The spacer also includes a faceplate that makes sure your images are not affected due to the ambient light. It also includes an eyepiece to improve image contrast and reduce the reflections.
This DL3N is compatible with any camera or smartphone which gives you an option to have your own Digital dermatoscope system. All you need to do is attach your device to an iPad, digital camera, or maybe with a smartphone, and you are done. You can start clicking high quality, sharp and clear images right away. Although this device comes with a long-lasting lithium battery, with a low-level battery indicator this device certainly attracts a lot of professional dermatologists.
Pros:
- One of the best Polarized dermatiscope you can get
- Camera compatible
- Includes spacer along with 10 mm cover glass
- Includes a switch to change operational modes
- Color correction at its best
- Image distortion is reduced a lot
- Detailed imaging with high quality
- Aluminum body
- Precision imaging
- Refined product quality for the best result
- Compact design
- The low battery indicator on the device surface
- Precise documentation
- One of the best Digital dermatoscope
- 10 years of warranty
Cons:
- As of now, there are no reports of any issues with this device
6. 3Gen DermLite DL100 Dermatology Dermascope:
The device comes with advanced technology that allows you to visualize the telangiectasia while detecting BCC at its early stage. Unlike other dermascopes available in the market, Dermlite allows you to easily observe and identify the vascular patterns. Due to its compact design and lightweight, this machine can be used for different purposes. Starting with viewing pigmented lesions, hair transplants, varicose veins, or checking skin lesions, this device can work smoothly and let you detect in a smart and fast way. This device comes with a powerful lithium battery that enables at least 1200 lesion examinations without having to change the battery.
The DL100 is equipped with 8 LED bulbs, a triple-lens which enables any user to have a better melanoma screening and quick examination without having to use oil. Also, this device comes with color correction technology and reduced image blurriness.
Pros:
- Allows you to view vascular structures clearly
- Comes with 10 years warranty
- The inclusion of diode technology allows the device to have a white light boost while checking for early melanoma growth
- No need to use any oil while checking for pigmented lesions
Cons:
- The construction quality of the device is not really impressive
- Basically, it’s a plastic case with a magnifying glass
- High priced compared to what it does
7. 3GEN DL1 Epiluminescence Dermlite Dermatoscope:
Pros:
- Easy to use
- You can charge it using the USB cable that fits in with your mac
- Works smoothly
- Great for the beginners
- Lens size is pretty much the same as that of DL100
- One of the best-polarized dermatoscope that you can get
- Supports iPhone 4 and iPhone 5
- Perfect size to carry it in your pocket
Cons:
- Plastic quality is not that good
- The iPhone case might not last long
- Fitting the case and getting the iPhone out of it might be a little bit of trouble for you
- A bit costly compared to other devices in the same category
- The app is available only for iPhone
Dermoscopy allows the microscopic visualization of the morphology of the epidermal layer, dermo-epidermal junction, and the papillary dermal layer that cannot be seen by the naked eye. This is done with a dermatoscope that is attached to a good quality camera and uses a magnification lens to produce high quality, enlarged pictures of the subcutaneous layer to distinguish melanoma from benign tumors. Traditional dermatoscopes or Handheld dermatoscopes use a liquid medium whereas modern digital microscopes use cross-polarization to eliminate the need for the liquid medium to obtain the images. The use of the latest technologies has made dermatoscopes a must-have tool for any physician or clinic that specializes in the identification and treatment of melanoma. Not only that, people who are at risk of developing melanoma can also use a modern, mobile-friendly dermatoscope to scrutinize their body moles and lesions from time to time.
Conclusion
The use of a dermatoscope can not only increase the chances of early detection of melanoma in patients but also cement your reputation as a physician. However, to do that, you have to ensure that you buy a dermatoscope that not only provides improved, high-quality imaging but is also easy to use. Before you decide on buying a particular model, make sure that you take into consideration all the factors mentioned in our guide and go through the Dermatoscope Reviews given above. This will help you make an informed and wise choice of the best tool for your clinic or practice.
You May Also Like: