The Role of Dermoscopy in Diagnosing STI-Associated Genital Lesions

¹Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Davie, FL, USA

²Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

³Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA

⁴University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA

⁵Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Meridian, ID, USA

⁶Department of Internal Medicine, Larkin Community Hospital, Palm Springs Campus, Hialeah, FL, USA

*Corresponding author: Allison Meihofer, BS, Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, 3200 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33328, USA, Phone: 215-275-0707, Email: [email protected]

Received Date: August 26, 2025

Publication Date: September 30, 2025

Citation: Meihofer A, et al. (2025). The Role of Dermoscopy in Diagnosing STI-Associated Genital Lesions. Dermis. 5(5):51.

Copyright: Meihofer A, et al. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Dermoscopy is a non-invasive tool commonly used in dermatology to examine and diagnose various skin lesions. Traditional methods of diagnosing sexually transmitted infection (STI)-related genital lesions often rely on laboratory tests like PCR, serology, and histopathology, which can be costly, time-consuming, and impractical in sensitive areas or resource-limited settings. Dermoscopy offers a faster, more accessible way to visualize lesions in real-time, making it a promising tool to help differentiate STI-associated genital lesions with overlapping clinical presentations, such as syphilitic chancres, genital warts from human papillomavirus (HPV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesions. Studies have identified distinct dermoscopic patterns for these lesions, with HPV-induced genital warts often showing fingerlike, mosaic, or knoblike patterns, while HSV lesions appear as clustered vesicles on an erythematous base, and primary syphilis chancres display a reddish central erosion with whitish borders. These features allow for differentiation from other similar-appearing lesions. Dermoscopy can potentially improve clinical suspicion, reducing reliance on laboratory testing, especially in settings where such tests may not be available. Although promising, further research is needed to validate dermoscopy’s effectiveness, standardize diagnostic criteria, and assess its practical use in clinical practice. Ultimately, dermoscopy has the potential to improve patient care by facilitating faster, more accurate diagnoses, reducing delays in treatment, and enhancing the overall management of STI-related genital lesions. This review aims to explore common dermoscopic patterns of these lesions, evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy, and examine its feasibility in clinical practice, especially when laboratory tests are unavailable.

Keywords: Dermoscopy, STI-Associated Genital Lesions, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Syphilis Chancres