Skin complaints are common in both community-based and hospital paediatric practices. The range of skin problems is diverse, including categories like inflammatory conditions (eg eczema, psoriasis), birthmarks (eg haemangiomas, port-wine stains, melanocytic naevi), infectious skin diseases, and hair and nail problems.

In many situations, the clinical diagnosis of paediatric skin problems is straightforward but masquerading conditions also exist.1 2 Although histopathological examination can confirm the clinical diagnosis, skin biopsy in young children may require special arrangements such as sedation. In recent years, the gap between clinical and histopathological examination of skin lesions has been filled by various skin imaging modalities.3 4 As a simple, quick,5 non-invasive clinical technique, dermoscopy has gained popularity in the examination of skin in western countries.6 7 Dermoscopy refers to the examination of skin with a handheld device to reveal surface and subsurface skin structures. This is achieved by an optical system to magnify, illuminate, and remove light flare and reflection from the skin surface. It provides the link between eyeball clinical inspection and histopathological examination. With more than 1500 articles published after its introduction in 1980s, dermoscopy has been established as a routine skin examination technique in many western countries.8 As dermoscopy is extremely useful in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma9 and is able to reduce the need for skin biopsy,10 11 it is most widely used in the management of pigmented skin lesions. Recently, dermoscopic features of a wide range of non-pigmented skin problems have also been reported.12 13 With the uncovering of more dermoscopic features, dermoscopy has gained importance in the diagnosis of skin lesions, and its benefits in educating medical students and use in family practice have also been published recently.14 15 16

Medical researches on dermoscopy in Chinese populations, however, have rarely been published.17 18 19 With the understanding that ethnicity may affect dermoscopic findings,20 the aim of this study was to identify dermoscopic features in Chinese children and assess if those are in line with internationally published features.

The clinical use and research on dermoscopy in children worldwide had been limited by both patient factors and equipment factors. Camera-mounted dermoscope required lengthy setup and was not user-friendly in busy clinics. In addition, babies and young children might not stay still during the examination. To ensure an efficient dermoscopic examination and a good-quality dermoscopy image capture, a novel device developed by the biomedical engineering team of the Hong Kong Productivity Council was applied. This study evaluated the dermoscopic features of common skin problems in Chinese children using the dermoscopy image database established with the dermoscope.

A retrospective analysis of the dermoscopic features of skin lesions of Chinese children (aged 0-18 years) was performed. The study was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee and conducted at the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong, using the dermoscopic image database from 1 May 2013 to 31 October 2013, which contained only cases with symptoms and signs classical for their respective clinical diagnoses. These images were examined by a paediatrician trained in dermoscopy. A two-step algorithm was used to assess dermoscopy images with the first step aiming at differentiating melanocytic from non-melanocytic lesions and the second step on specific pattern analysis. The results of the analysis were categorised according to the clinical diagnoses.

Literature search of the MEDLINE database was performed to identify specific dermoscopic features for each clinical diagnosis. The key words used in the literature search were “dermoscopy, dermatoscopy, dermoscope, dermatoscope”. Key words specific to individual clinical diagnosis were used to facilitate the search. It was then assessed if the dermoscopic features of this study corresponded with those from published medical literature.

During the study period, all dermoscopy images were captured by the novel Hong Kong–made dermoscope. It was an all-in-one pocket-size autofocusing polarised digital dermoscope with Wi-Fi and USB connectivity capable of capturing dermoscopy image of all ages including young infants within 5 seconds (Fig). An extensible optic barrel was hinged on the body of the dermoscope so that both gross photos and 10-times magnified dermoscopy photos could be taken. The images were then uploaded to a computerised dermoscopy image database.

Dermoscopic images of 185 Chinese children (86 boys and 99 girls) suffering from 22 skin conditions were retrieved. The mean age of these children was 5.2 years (range, 2 days to 17 years). The top 12 diagnoses reported (in descending order of frequency) were port-wine stain (n=42), melanocytic naevus (n=41), haemangioma (n=30), café-au-lait macule (CALM; n=15), sebaceous naevus (n=8), viral wart (n=7), atopic dermatitis (n=6), alopecia areata (n=5), cutis aplasia (n=5), psoriasis (n=4), scabies (n=3), and molluscum contagiosum (n=3).

The dermoscopic features of these 12 diagnoses were further analysed. They were grouped into four main disease categories: birthmarks (pigmentary and vascular), infections, hair problems, and inflammatory dermatoses. Forty-two dermoscopic features were identified (Table 1).

In the pigmentary birthmark category, there were 41 children with 51 melanocytic naevi (mean age, 7.3 years). The most common dermoscopic pattern of melanocytic naevus was mixed, followed by globular, homogeneous, and reticular. In the mixed pattern naevi, globular-homogeneous was the commonest (n=13), followed by globular-reticular-homogeneous (n=6), reticular-homogeneous (n=4), and globular-reticular (n=3). There were 15 children with CALM (mean age, 3.5 years). All 10 children with facial CALM showed a homogeneous brown patch with perifollicular hypopigmentation. The five children with CALM on neck showed a reticular pattern.

In the vascular birthmark category, there were 42 children with port-wine stains (mean age, 6.5 years) and 30 infants with infantile haemangiomas (mean age, 6 months). For those with port-wine stains, both globular (n=4) and reticular (n=9) vascular patterns were identified but the most common dermoscopic pattern was mixed pattern (n=29) with both globular and reticular components. Among the 30 infantile haemangiomas, 25 had vessels of various morphologies, and red lacunae were noted in 24. None of the haemangiomas had melanocytic pattern.

In the infectious diseases category, there were seven children with viral warts on hands or feet (mean age, 10.5 years). Thrombosed capillaries presented as black-to-red dots, and papilliform surfaces and interrupted skin lines were identified in all cases. All three children with molluscum contagiosum (mean age, 5 years) showed orifices but vessels and specific vascular patterns could be found in only one case. In the three cases of scabies (mean age, 12.5 years), triangular head, transparent body, and burrows were present.

Patients with patchy alopecia were identified in the hair category. Eight patients had sebaceous naevus (mean age, 8.4 years), with four having yellow dots not associated with hair follicles, three having yellow lobules displacing blood vessels, and one having sebaceous hyperplasia. In the five patients with alopecia areata (mean age, 12 years), dermoscopic features including yellow dots (n=2), black dots (n=2), short vellus hair (n=4), broken hair (n=4), and micro-exclamation mark hair (n=3) were noted. Five patients with cutis aplasia (mean age, 3 years) were featured by a complete lack of skin appendages (n=5) and translucent appearance (n=4).

There were six patients with atopic dermatitis (mean age, 6.5 years) and four patients with psoriasis (mean age, 11 years) in the inflammatory dermatoses category. Atopic eczema was featured by structureless erythema (n=6), scales (n=6), and patchy dotted vessels (n=4) while the psoriasis patients had light red background (n=4), diffuse white scales (n=3), regular dotted vessels (n=4), and glomerular vessels (n=2).

Our study documented the dermoscopic findings of common paediatric skin conditions in Chinese children. In the analysis of the dermoscopy images using a two-step algorithm, the first step was differentiation between melanocytic and non-melanocytic lesions. This study identified typical melanocytic patterns (globular and reticular pattern21) in melanocytic naevi, and absence of melanocytic patterns in all haemangiomas. This two-step algorithm analysis of skin lesions confirmed the findings on clinical inspection and provided a standard approach to dermoscopic examination even in difficult cases.

Birthmarks are very common in children. Salmon patches occur in half of the neonates22 23 and infantile haemangiomas in one tenth of premature babies, while the prevalence of capillary malformations (port-wine stain) has been reported to be 0.3% to 2.1%.24 25 Within the vascular birthmark category, both port-wine stains and haemangiomas could present as neonatal erythematous patches. As lacunae pattern was commonly identified in haemangiomas but not in port-wine stains, it may serve to differentiate haemangiomas from port-wine stains. An early diagnosis of haemangiomas facilitates timely management as some may rapidly proliferate or develop complications in the first few months of life. In our series, the majority of the port-wine stain lesions showed a mixed pattern with both globular and reticular components (n=29/42) while reticular (n=9/42) and globular (n=4/42) patterns were less common. The ectatic capillary plexus was situated deeper in the dermis in those with a reticular pattern than those with a globular pattern; this difference may have treatment and prognostic implications on response to laser treatment.13 As such, laser treatment strategy aiming at the deeper dermal layer would be required to improve treatment results.

In the pigmentary birthmark category, both congenital and acquired melanocytic naevi were included. The common dermoscopic patterns of globular, reticular, homogeneous, and mixed reported in our series were in line with those reported in the western medical literature.26 27 28 29 As dermoscopy improves the detection of melanomas,30 its use was suggested in the monitoring of congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN), especially the smaller CMN.31 32 33 Sequential digital dermoscopy imaging can also reduce the unnecessary excision of suspicious pigmented skin lesions.34 This has been emphasised in children with epidermolysis bullosa who are at risk of developing skin cancers, and in whom overtreatment of the fragile skin should be avoided.35

This is the first report of dermoscopic features of CALM in medical literature. It was noted that the dermoscopic patterns of CALM might vary according to the location on the body. All the 10 cases of facial CALM showed homogeneous brown patches with perifollicular hypopigmentation while the five cases of CALM on the neck had a faint brown reticular pattern. As it may be difficult to differentiate CALM from CMN in infancy by inspection,36 dermoscopy provides a quick and non-invasive diagnostic tool to guide subsequent management.

In the infectious disease category, all viral warts were on the hands or feet, and all of them showed the classical features of thrombosed capillaries present as black-to-red dots and globules on papilliform surfaces with interrupted skin lines. These findings were consistent with features reported in the medical literature.37 The confirmation of the diagnosis of viral wart before initiating treatment is important because acral melanoma, which is more common in Chinese, has been reported to be misdiagnosed as viral wart with disastrous consequences.38 39 40 Moreover, dermoscopy could help guide treatment by identifying residual warty structures or confirming complete resolution of warts.37

In our series, there were three children with scabies who had either the classical dermoscopic sign of ‘triangular structure’41 or the round bodies42 43 of the scabies mite. The “z”- or “s”-shaped burrows were also well depicted on dermoscopy in two of them. Dermoscopy is a simple, accurate, and rapid44 technique for diagnosing scabies even in inexperienced hands.45 In a study involving 756 patients, dermoscopic examination for scabies was found to be 91% sensitive and 86% specific.45 It greatly enhances treatment decisions45 and allows fast introduction of proper treatment.42 Diagnosing scabies in children by dermoscopy is child-friendly as it requires no skin scrappings, thus, causing no fear or pain.42 In addition, demonstration of scabies mite to patient may foster treatment adherence in both patients and asymptomatic family members.44

Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin infection in children46 and is highly contagious47 with outbreaks reported.48 In our three children with molluscum contagiosum, the reported dermoscopic features included orifices with amorphous white centre and polylobular appearance surrounded by vessels.49 50 When the typical clinical features of molluscum contagiosum are not apparent, dermoscopy can be helpful for diagnosis.51

Three common causes of patchy alopecia in children were reported in this study. For neonates or infants with congenital patchy alopecia, the differentiation between sebaceous naevus and cutis aplasia may be difficult.52 In our study, the dermoscopic features of sebaceous naevi with yellow dots unassociated with hair follicles, sebaceous hyperplasia, and yellow lobules displacing blood vessels53 were demonstrated. On the other hand, cutis aplasia showed a complete lack of skin appendages and skin translucency.52 While no specific treatment is usually needed for cutis aplasia, surgical excision of sebaceous naevi is often advised with its potential for developing into basal cell carcinoma.54

The lifetime risk of alopecia areata in the general population is approximately 1.7% and as many as 60% of patients with alopecia areata have disease onset before 20 years of age.55 The clinical features of hair loss vary with clinical subtypes.56 In our series of five children with alopecia areata, black dots, yellow dots, short vellus hair, broken hair, and micro-exclamation mark hairs were noted. These dermoscopic features may be useful clinical indicators in alopecia areata which have both diagnostic and prognostic values.57 58

Concerning the inflammatory dermatoses category, clinical similarities exist between atopic dermatitis and psoriasis as both are chronic pruritic scaly erythematous skin conditions. It is known that characteristic dermoscopic vascular patterns facilitate differentiation of psoriasis from atopic dermatitis.59 In our study, the patchy dotted vessels60 and linear vessels of atopic dermatitis could be differentiated from the red globular rings61 and glomerular vessels62 of psoriasis.

The clinical significance of dermoscopy in children’s skin conditions is summarised in Table 2.

Although various dermoscopic features of skin problems could be identified in this study, it had several limitations. First, the dermoscopy database only contained images captured during routine clinical service when the clinical features were classical of their respective diagnosis. As such, the database was not representative of all common skin problems in children. In addition, with the small case numbers for some of the diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, further research is required to confirm our preliminary findings. Moreover, features of skin diseases in children are age-dependent and phase-dependent but these factors were not evaluated in the present study.

Dermoscopy is a well-established skin examination tool with known dermoscopic features for many diagnoses. Our study confirmed that the dermoscopic features reported in the medical literature could be identified in Chinese children. While the value of dermoscopy in diagnostic, prognostic, and disease monitoring is being unveiled, further studies are required to understand its role in various paediatric skin diseases.

We would like to thank Ms Carol YB Liu and Mr Bryan MK So of Hong Kong Productivity Council and Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Fund for the support on the dermoscopy device for this study.

David CK Luk acted as advisor to Hong Kong Productivity Council on the development of dermoscope prototype. No conflicts of interests were declared by authors.

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