Dermoscopy of plaque psoriasis differs with plaque location, its duration, and patient's sex.

INTRODUCTION

Literature data on dermoscopic features of psoriasis vulgaris are inconsistent. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether dermoscopic features of psoriatic plaques differ with anatomic location or any clinical characteristics.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Clinical evaluation and videodermoscopy of psoriatic plaques located on the face, chest, abdomen, forearms, lower legs, back, and scalp were performed in 50 patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

RESULTS

A total of 306 plaques were evaluated. Videodermoscopy with a 20-fold magnification revealed red dots and globules in 306/306 (100%) plaques, arranged in diffuse (170/306, 56%), patchy (117/306, 38%), or polygonal (19/306, 6%) pattern. A 70 fold magnification of these vessels revealed the presence of bushy vessels (213/306, 70%) and twisted loops (107/306, 35%), with the latter occurring more commonly on the scalp and face (P < .001). In lesions lasting less or equal 5 weeks on forearms and scalp, patchy distribution of the scale predominated, whereas in older lesions-diffuse type (forearm P = .005, scalp P = .017). Diffuse distribution of the scale in lesions located on the face was more common in women, than men (P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

Videodermoscopic picture of psoriatic plaques may differ with the anatomic location and duration of the psoriatic plaque and with patient's sex.