title: Procedures in primary care dermatology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practitioners can provide a range of diagnostic and treatment procedures for patients with dermatological problems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews the use of Wood's light, diascopy, skin scrapings for microscopy, skin biopsy, cauterisation, doppler measurement of ankle-brachial pressure index, and multi-layer compression bandages for venous ulcers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adequate training and proper equipment is essential for commonly neglected areas including informed written consent, good communication with the histopathologist, a system for handling specimens and reports, action plans for laboratory results, and adequate training and protection for auxiliary staff.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. achuh@iohk.com
authors.forename: Antonio A T
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chuh
authors.forename: William C W
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Samuel Y S
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods; D002425:Cautery / Q000379:methods; D003475:Curettage / Q000379:methods; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods