Dermoscopy Training for Primary Care
Getting to Grips with Dermoscopy
Course Overview
BBO Training offers commissioned dermoscopy training for Primary Care teams seeking to develop confidence in skin lesion recognition and early identification of skin cancer.
This full-day practical course is designed for registered healthcare professionals working in General Practice who wish to enhance diagnostic accuracy using dermoscopy. The training supports clinicians in distinguishing benign lesions from suspicious or malignant lesions, improving referral decisions and patient safety.
The programme combines structured teaching with hands-on dermatoscope use, image interpretation, and practical skin examination sessions.
This course provides an introduction to dermoscopy principles and structured lesion recognition but does not replace formal dermoscopy accreditation pathways where these are required.
Who Should Attend
Suitable for:
- General Practitioners
- Advanced Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse Practitioners
- Practice Nurses
- Physician Associates
- Primary Care Pharmacists
- Paramedics working in Primary Care
Participants should already be involved in skin assessment within Primary Care.
What This Training Covers
Part 1 – Dermoscopy Principles and Practical Use
- Introduction to dermoscopy
- Understanding magnification and light sources
- How to use a dermatoscope effectively
- Capturing and documenting images
- Interpreting dermoscopic structures
Part 2 – Recognising Common Benign Lesions
- Seborrhoeic keratosis
- Vascular lesions
- Dermatofibromas
- Sebaceous lesions
- Solar lentigo
- Naevi (moles)
- Practical skin examination session
Part 3 – Recognising Lesions of Concern
- Actinic keratosis
- Bowen’s disease
- Keratoacanthoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
- Clues and Chaos algorithm
- Practical strategies to avoid missing melanoma
Consolidation and Reflection
- Interactive quiz
- Case discussion
- Reflection and action planning
- Integrating dermoscopy safely into Primary Care
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the principles of dermoscopy
- Use a dermatoscope safely and effectively
- Recognise common benign skin lesions
- Identify dermoscopic features suggestive of malignancy
- Apply structured approaches to melanoma detection
- Improve referral accuracy for suspicious lesions
- Develop an action plan for integrating dermoscopy into practice
Delivery Format
- Duration: Full-day
- Delivery: Face-to-face (recommended for practical training)
- Availability: Commissioned sessions only
Important Note
Dermoscopy competency and governance requirements vary between ICBs and local services. This training supports knowledge and skill development but does not constitute formal dermoscopy accreditation.