A nailfold capillaroscopy is a diagnostic procedure that involves examining the small blood vessels (capillaries) in the skin near the nails. It is typically used to diagnose and monitor connective tissue diseases, such as scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus.
A handheld dermatoscope is a medical device that is used to examine the skin and nails in close detail. It is a portable, magnifying instrument that is often used by dermatologists to diagnose and monitor skin conditions. Some handheld dermatoscopes have the capability to be used as a nailfold capillaroscopy instrument, allowing the healthcare provider to magnify and illuminate the skin and nails to see the capillaries more clearly.
The use of a handheld dermatoscope as a nailfold capillaroscopy instrument can be helpful in the diagnosis and monitoring of connective tissue diseases because it allows the healthcare provider to examine the capillaries in the skin near the nails in close detail. Changes in the appearance of the capillaries can be an indication of a connective tissue disease, and the dermatoscope can help the healthcare provider to see these changes more clearly.
