Diagnosis of Skin Diseases

The diagnosis of a skin disease includes a detailed history and a complete skin examination. Skin lesions should be carefully observed for distribution, lesion morphology, and configuration. It is important to examine the entire surface of the skin, hair, nails, and visible mucous membranes. Some cutaneous signs can be highly pathognomonic for certain skin conditions, but in some cases, additional diagnostic methods including skin swabs, direct skin microscopy, and culture and allergy testing need to be performed. In the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, highly specific tests such as immunofluorescence and the detection of antinuclear antibodies in the patient’s serum are used.