Dermatologist Using Microscopes

How Dermatologists Use Dermatology Microscopes

Dermatology is a wide field of science that focuses heavily on skin conditions that are caused by autoimmune diseases, as well as the different skin cancers that impact people. The field also covers cosmetic procedures such as microdermabrasion.

While many of these conditions can be seen with the naked eye, many of the diseases and conditions require an examination at the microscopic level to accurately diagnose. This is why dermatologist, across the world, rely on professional dermatology microscopes to identify skin conditions before it's too late and provide their patients the care they need to cure their medical problems.

Let’s take a look at the ways dermatologists use dermatology microscopes along with some of the most popular microscopes we offer in our store.

Applications for Dermatologists

The best use for dermatology microscopes is at a lower magnification. The dermatologist will take a thin slice of the skin or outer layer of the epidermis to view the cells at a microscopic level. The sample must be thin so the light from the dermatology microscope can pass through it, revealing any imperfections or signs of disease.

Dermatologists will set their dermatology microscope’s objective lenses at around 2x, 4X, 10X, 20X, or 40X. This gives them a total magnification of 20x, 40X, 100X, 200X, and 400X respectively. They will typically use the lowest magnifications more frequently but might choose a higher magnification in cases they need to examine the sample more closely.

Dermatologists use their microscopes on a daily basis, and in busy offices, they might use the dermatology microscope multiple times, running samples from dozens of patients. For these reasons, dermatology microscopes are typically more robust than other microscopes so they can handle the consistent daily use. Since a dermatologist can sometimes spend hours at a microscope it is usually important for them to configure the microscope with an ergonomic tilting head.

When using a dermatology microscope, it is often recommended by manufacturers that the equipment is effectively cleaned each day to ensure that no contaminants remain on the equipment. Oil and paraffin can wreak havoc on the dry objectives if not cleaned. Simply wiping down the lenses, the stage, and condenser will keep the dermatology microscope working well for years to come.

The Most Popular Microscopes

The Leica DM750 MOHS microscope is used by dermatologists to view samples of a patient’s hair or skin. They are sold with a selection of specialty dyes to help dermatologists easily differentiate specific cells and cell organelles.

The Accu-Scope 3025 is specially designed for dermatology uses as well as a few other general laboratory uses. It is best suited for Dermatology Mohs uses with 2x low power scanning objective for most applications along with 4x, 10x, 20x, and 40x objectives for applications that require a closer view. 

The Equipment You Need

Are you looking for the best selection of microscopes and lab accessories on the web? Be sure to browse our entire selection of dermatology microscopes at Microscope Central! We offer the best equipment to help you make new discoveries every day!