What should you know about firefly dermatoscope?

A dermatoscope reduces surface reflection and enlarges a lesion, allowing a clinician to examine details that may not be clear to the unaided eye. It can support assessment of moles, pigmented marks, and other lesions, but it does not by itself provide a final diagnosis. The clinician combines the image with your history, examination, and changes over time. A Dermatoscope may be used during Skin Cancer Screening.

Before an appointment, note when the mark appeared and whether its size, shape, colour, border, surface, or symptoms have changed. Bring information about previous skin cancers, family history, and earlier photographs if available. During the examination, the device may touch the skin lightly, sometimes with a clear contact medium. You can point out every mark that worries you, including one that bleeds, crusts, or repeatedly itches.

Arrange prompt assessment for a new or changing mark, especially one with uneven colour, an irregular outline, rapid growth, persistent bleeding, crusting, or a sore that does not heal. Seek urgent help for severe swelling or breathing difficulty after any applied product, although these are not typical effects of dermatoscopy.

Ask what features were seen, whether a baseline photograph or follow-up is useful, and whether sampling or removal is needed. Ask how soon to return if the mark changes and which changes should be reported sooner.