title: A pilot trial of dermoscopy as a rapid assessment tool in pediatric dermatoses.
abstract: Dermoscopy is a noninvasive technique to assess skin architecture. A pilot study was conducted using polarized dermoscopy as a tool to monitor the pediatric skin barrier. Ten pediatric patients (age range, 1-14 years) with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD), ichthyosis vulgaris (IV), and/or keratosis pilaris (KP) participated in a 4-week clinical trial. After a week of emollient usage alone, a mid-potency topical corticosteroid cream was added twice daily if necessary to treat erythema, dermatitis, or pruritus. The participants were assessed at weeks 0, 1, and 4 using the eczema area and severity index (EASI) for atopic dermatitis, investigator global assessment for atopic dermatitis, children dermatology life quality index (CDLQI), and clinical and dermoscopic photography. Dermoscopic appearance demonstrated dermal vascular ectasia in AD and KP, hyperkeratosis and prominence of the interkeratinocyte space in AD and IV and widening of the follicular orifice in KP. Improvements in these dermoscopic abnormalities were noted after emollient usage, mirroring improvements in clinical appearance, EASI, and CDLQI. Dermoscopy is a promising tool to assess localized improvement in skin architecture in pediatric dermatoses. Further studies and development of scoring systems will be needed to apply this technology to clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, New York 10025, USA. nsilverb@chpnet.org
authors.forename: Nanette B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Silverberg
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007644:Darier Disease; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005138:Eyebrows / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016112:Ichthyosis Vulgaris / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D007223:Infant; D007642:Keratosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids