Scaling skin disorders

Scaling skin disorders have similar features. Careful inspection to determine the characteristics of the primary lesion, along with distribution patterns and performance of routine diagnostic tests, usually lead to a correct diagnosis. Potassium hydroxide examination should be performed on most scaling skin disorders. If a microscope is not readily available, skin scrapings should be sent to a microbiology laboratory, or a microscope should be purchased and training obtained. A binocular microscope is preferable to view fungal hyphae. KOH examination requires supervised experience to become proficient.