Clinical evaluation and characterization of normal perioral tissues with a new advanced videodermatoscopy method: A cross-sectional pilot study on dental students

Aims: The main outcome is to describe the key dermatomucosal structures of the healthy perioral tissues and to assess their visibility and ease of identification, using an innovative advanced dermatoscopic technique. Methods: this pilot observational cross-sectional clinical study was conducted to evaluate and describe the characteristics of healthy perioral tissue in 40 young-adult subjects. For all subjects, two lightweight probes were used, with different magnifications. For each patient, three anatomical areas of interest were identified: the anterior chin area (ACA); the transition zone between the ACA and the labial integument, also known as the vermilion border (VB), and the pigmented area of the lip, also known as the vermilion zone (VZ). These were evaluated with both white light and polarized light. The acquired dermatoscopic and fluorescence-advanced videodermatoscopy (FAV) images were carefully reviewed by two independent investigators. In addition to a descriptive phase focusing on the normal anatomy of various regions, a qualitative assessment of the visibility of the mucocutaneous structures was performed. Image analysis utilized the visibility scale. Results: Visibility scores significantly differed between lighting modes and magnification levels. Skin texture was better visualized with non-polarized light (p < 0.001), while polarized light improved visualization of pores and vascular structures (p < 0.01). No significant differences emerged by gender, skin type, or phototype. Conclusion: these findings highlight the capability of FAV technology to provide detailed visualization of both epithelial and non-epithelial structures, with consistent patterns of visibility across different anatomical zones.