ABSTRACT
Dermoscopy was considered just a tool for diagnosing “pigmented skin lesions.” This is no semantic peculiarity but reflects an important aspect of diagnosing hypopigmented lesions by dermoscopy. Non-pigmented lesions in the strict sense display no signs of pigmentation at all. Thus, only unspecific features such as size, elevation, and symmetry of shape attract clinical attention and—last but not least—a pink or reddish color. As blood vessels are soft tissue and compression by an optical instrument empties the vessels’ blood content, pressure exerted on a lesion may render many, if not all, clues to diagnosis invisible. To overcome this difficulty, one may use instruments with a source of polarized light which do not require contact media and glass plate. Ultrasound gel is a convenient aid as it is crystal clear, nontoxic or nonirritating, odorless, cheap, and readily available.
