ABSTRACT
Leishmaniasis is a protozoal infection transmitted to humans by the bite of infected female sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus , Lutzomyia and Psychodopygus. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is mainly caused by Leishmania mexicana and Leishmania braziliensis in the Americas and Leishmania major in all other countries. CL manifests with small red papules that progress over few months to erythematous nodules and plaques with raised borders that may be either scaly/crusted or exudating/ulcerated in the centre. Dermoscopy of CL in skin of colour is similar to what is usually seen in Caucasian patients, apart from the lower prevalence of vascular structures. Ulceration/crusting and central white scaling are also common but poorly specific. Demodicosis is a cutaneous infestation due to human Demodex mites involving the pilosebaceous unit. Dermoscopy in demodicosis in dark-skinned patients may be particularly helpful to differentiate such a condition from clinically similar dermatoses.
