Essential Acral Dermoscopy: Patterns You Can’t Miss
Let’s be honest, acral dermoscopy can be a little scary because no one wants to miss acral lentiginous melanoma. In its early stages, it can be subtle, and outcomes suffer when diagnosis is delayed. In this session, Dr. Stein—professor at NYU School of Medicine where she serves as the associate director of the Pigmented Lesion Section—provides a pattern-recognition reset on volar skin, empha …
Let’s be honest, acral dermoscopy can be a little scary because no one wants to miss acral lentiginous melanoma. In its early stages, it can be subtle, and outcomes suffer when diagnosis is delayed. In this session, Dr. Stein—professor at NYU School of Medicine where she serves as the associate director of the Pigmented Lesion Section—provides a pattern-recognition reset on volar skin, empha … Continue reading "Essential Acral Dermoscopy: Patterns You Can’t Miss"
Originally published May 26, 2021; updated February 23, 2026 by the Next Steps in Derm Editorial Team with refreshed links and expanded guidance on treating nail disorders.
Just as pigmented lesions on the skin can vary widely from freckles to lentigines to nevi to melanoma, similar pigmented lesions can be seen in nails. Melanonychia, brown … 
TODAY.com recently posted an article about one woman's experience with subungual melanoma, which was initially diagnosed as a mole. What are some common mimics to nail melanoma that could result in a missed diagnosis, and when should a dermatologist perform a nail biopsy?
For expert advice, I reached out to Shari Lipner, MD, PhD, associate professor of clinical dermatology and director of t …