Dermatologist Instruments

Dermatologist instruments aid in enhancing patients' complexions and treating various skin conditions. These tools of the trade include high-powered microscopes used to probe skin lesions, warts or cancer. They also cover a wide variety of hollow tubes called cannulas that work with liposuction machines to remove fat beneath the skin. Skin doctors also keep more basic utensils like scissors and needles at their fingertips to guide them when treating skin tags and blemishes.

Microscope

• A dermatologist assesses a patient's skin visually and later under a microscope. He removes samples and then mounts and preserves the tissues on a slide. A dermatological microscope allows the doctor to use low-powered magnification to determine the existence of a suspected skin condition, such as ringworm or athlete's foot, according to the Clinical Microscopes website. A higher-powered setting helps him identify the specific strain or parasite involved. A dermatologist also operates microscope instruments directly over a patient's skin as a non-invasive diagnostic tool.

Suction Tube

• The skin doctor uses specialized tubes to vacuum unwanted fat from beneath a patient's skin surface. Known as cannulas, these come in various sizes and lengths. Some cannulas have rounded and blunt tips, whereas others have ends shaped like bullets, according to dermatologist Robert Bader on his website. These tubes also have multiple holes used to suck out fatty deposits during liposuction. Some doctors prefer to generate the suction effect with syringes to minimize bruising.

Hemostat

• A hemostat is a hinged instrument resembling forceps. A dermatologist dips her hemostat into liquid nitrogen and places it against a patient's skin tag. This chemical process forces the polyp to shrivel and shed in about one week, according to the Dermatology Online Journal. The doctor avoids touching surrounding skin, and a patient only feels a slight sting during the treatment. Some dermatologists prefer using iris or Gradle scissors to snip away skin tags, which requires dressings afterward.

Curette

• A simple way to remove small bumps or pimples is to use a curette, the Dermatology Online Journal suggests. These blunt, stainless-steel items are standard utensils in any dermatology office, unlike comedone extractors, which are specialty instruments used in acne treatments. The dermatologist gently pokes the lesion with a needle and applies pressure with a non-disposable curette. Any pus drains from the opening, and a skin doctor sanitizes his instruments before working on another blemish. Dermatologists also use curettes for skin biopsies.