Development of a Low-Cost Dermoscope with Cross Polarization for Visual Inspection and Digital Imaging

Abstract : This paper describes the development of a digital dermoscope with cross polarization as an auxiliary instrument to help dermatologists diagnose pigmented skin lesions, allowing the visualization of skin pigmentation structures in the epidermis and dermis. The device consists of a low-cost digital microscope with a modified optical system, in which linear polarizers and a rotation system have been added to cross the transmission axes of the polarizers. As a result, this device obtains images of the skin in situ, greatly eliminates the specular reflection of the skin’s surface layer, making it possible to visualize deeper layers such as capillary blood vessels and internal pigments.