ABSTRACT
It is caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, and it is more frequent in the index finger of women and children. The lesion starts with typical vesicles on erythematous and edematous base, extremely painful. After some days, vesicles often coalesce into bullae, and fluid becomes turbid, purulent, or even hemorrhagic. Then crusts appear and heal completely in 15 days on average. Diagnosis should be confirmed by Tzanck smear or culture or polymerase chain reaction or serum analysis because the clinical picture is very similar to a bacterial infection. The main point in favor of dermoscopy is the better view of the vesicles that, sometimes, could not be seen with the naked eye ( Figures 9.1 and 9.2 ).
