Skin Scrape on Leukoformula

Sarcoptes scabiei Mite in Skin Scrape Microscopy

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:02 +0300

A female scabies mite and a larva in an egg nearby.

The second photo shows another female found in a different patient.

🙏 The publication was kindly provided by clinical laboratory diagnostics physician Olga Parfentieva.

Microscopy of Skin Scrape for Scabies: Sarcoptes scabiei

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:29:46 +0300

Scabies mite. Material: skin scrape. 🙏 Photos kindly provided by Marina Prokopyeva, Laboratory Diagnostics Physician, SPHCI LCRH, St. Petersburg.

Parasitology Case: Microscopic Examination of Skin Scrape

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0300

PARASITOLOGY EXERCISE We encountered an interesting result from a microscopic examination of skin scrapes. What diagnosis would you make? And what forms do you observe? ANSWER TOMORROW!

Microscopy of Skin Scrapings: Candida and Malassezia Mycelium

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0300

Fungal mycelium in skin scrapings, native preparation with 40% alkali. 1st photo - fungal mycelium thread from the genus Candida, most often Candida albicans. 2nd photo - mycelial threads and grape-like clusters of Malassezia furfur spores, the causative agent of pityriasis (tinea) versicolor.

Detection of Demodex Mites in Native Skin Scrapings

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0300

Demodex mite (anterior part) surrounded by epithelial scales, native skin scraping preparation, treated with 40% alkali, low (x10) and high (x40) magnification. Demodex mites (in humans, these are D. folliculorum and D. brevis species) are small mites that inhabit sebaceous glands and around hair follicles. They are found in almost every person, most often harmless, but when they multiply excessively, they can cause the disease demodicosis. It is registered in individuals of all ages with weakened immunity, impaired metabolism, as well as in children with chronic gastrointestinal and lung diseases. The goal of demodicosis diagnosis is to detect the mite and/or its eggs on the eyelashes and in skin scrapings. Most often, Demodex mites are localized on the facial skin, eyelashes, and in the external ear area; the chest and back are affected significantly less often.

Microscopy of Skin and Nail Scrapings for Pathogenic Fungi

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 10:00:01 +0300

Collection of positive skin and nail scrapings for pathogenic fungi

🙏 The images were kindly provided by clinical laboratory diagnostics physician Victoria Gerbutova, Krasnodar.

Demodex Mite in Basal Cell Carcinoma Skin Scraping

Fri, 30 May 2025 11:42:19 +0300

Basal cell carcinoma was diagnosed, and Demodex was found. Localization: Forehead skin. Male, born 1969.

🙏 The publication was kindly provided by laboratory physician Irina Gorkova, Armavir.

Demodex Mites in Skin Scrapings: Microscopic Findings

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 14:00:29 +0300

🔬 Demodex in skin scraping for pathogenic fungi🤭 Unexpected finding! 🙏 The image was kindly provided by Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Doctor Victoria Gerbutova, Krasnodar.

Case Study: Identifying a Mite in a Facial Skin Scrape

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:52:23 +0300

An anonymous question from a subscriber. Please help identify the parasite.

Clinical picture: A 52-year-old woman developed a red spot on her face – diagnosed as rosacea, the doctor advised an additional scrape for Demodex.

Cytological Features of Basal Cell Carcinoma in Skin Scrapes

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:50:25 +0300

🔬Cytology of a skin lesion scrape from the forehead. Basal cell carcinoma (basalioma). What can be seen in the smear: ☑ Clusters of varying density composed of basaloid cells; ☑ Mild nuclear polymorphism of tumor cells; ☑ High nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio in tumor cells; ☑ Presence of an amorphous interstitial substance.

Fungal Mycelium in Groin Skin Scraping: Mycosis Diagnosis

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 11:19:56 +0300

🔬 Fungi from Groin Skin Folds

🙏Image kindly provided by Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Physician, Anna Ivanova, Moscow

Microscopy of Foot Skin Scraping: Pathogenic Fungal Mycelium

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:52:31 +0300

🌳 “Tree” of Fungi on Foot Skin 🔬

🙏 Photos kindly provided by Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Physician, Anna Ivanova, Moscow

Microscopic Diagnosis of Foot Skin Mycosis with KOH

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:35:55 +0300

🔬 Microscopic fungi from foot skin. KOH material processing. 40x objective.

🙏 Photos kindly provided by Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Physician, Anna Ivanova Moscow

Microscopy of Facial Skin Scrapings: Demodex Mites

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 11:30:00 +0300

🔬 Demodex, facial scraping

🙏 The image was kindly provided by Nadezhda Andreeva, Kazan

Malassezia furfur in Skin and Nail Plate Scrapings

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:00:01 +0300

🔬 Malassezia furfur. Back skin, KOH 20%, magnification x400+zoom. NB! Sometimes this picture can be observed in nail plate preparations. The detection of such curved mycelial threads and groups of double-contoured spores characteristic of M. furfur in NAILS is contamination and has no diagnostic value.

Sarcoptes Scabiei Mite in Skin Scrape: Lab Diagnosis

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0300

Sarcoptes scabiei hominis. KOH 20%, x400 magnification + zoom

🙏 Material kindly provided by medical laboratory technician Dmitry Emelyanov.

Skin Scrape Microscopy for Mycosis Diagnosis

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:30:00 +0300

🔬Skin scales. Mycosis. Microscopy x200

🙏Material kindly provided by KDL biologist Tatiana Ivashchenko

Sarcoptes Scabiei Mite in Skin Scraping: Morphology & Diagnosis

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 19:30:00 +0300

🔬 Find of the day!

🙏 Photo courtesy of biologist Tatiana Pikaleva, Moscow

Arthroconidia in Skin and Nail Scrapings in Mycoses

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 19:30:00 +0300

Arthroconidia (sporulated mycelium). Skin, nails, KOH 20%, magnification x400+zoom. Microscopic findings of only arthroconidia are characteristic of mycoses caused by dermatophytes, Onychocola canadiensis, and Scitalidium spp.

🙏 Material kindly provided by med. lab. technician Dmitry Emelyanov.

Parasitology Case: Skin Scrape from Itchy Rash

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 16:00:01 +0300

🔬 Parasitology Exercise. ✅The following was found in skin scrapes from a 75-year-old man with an itchy rash: photo №1: ×100 magnification, photos №2-4: ×400. ❓Can you identify these objects? ANSWER TOMORROW!

Fungal Mycelium in Skin Scraping: KOH Microscopy

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:00:01 +0300

🔬 Microscopy of skin scraping. Fungal mycelium detected. 400x magnification, KOH treatment.

🙏 Images kindly provided by Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Physician, Anna Ivanova, Moscow

Candida in Skin Scrapings from Candidal Intertrigo

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:44:24 +0300

Candida in axillary folds and interdigital spaces of the hands. Skin scraping, 20% KOH treatment, x400 magnification + zoom.

Candida fungi are frequently found in intertriginous dermatitis, also known as diaper rash. This type of inflammation occurs in areas of increased moisture and friction, which creates favorable conditions for fungal growth.

Diagnosing Demodex canis in Canine Skin Scrapings

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0300

Veterinary medicine. Demodex canis from a puppy’s skin. Materials: skin scraping and cytology taken with a tape test, stained with Leikodiff 200.

👉 The image was kindly provided by Anastasia Kochetkova, Veterinary Clinic “Center”, Rostov-on-Don.

Erythrocytes in Skin Scrapings After KOH Solution Treatment

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 20:00:00 +0300

Skin scraping. Erythrocytes after approximately half an hour in alkali, 20% KOH. Magnification x400+zoom.

Material kindly provided by medical laboratory technician Dmitry Emelyanov.

Malassezia furfur: Diagnosis of Pityriasis Versicolor

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 16:00:00 +0300

Malassezia furfur (Pityrosporon ovale, Pityrosporum orbiculare) is the causative agent of pityriasis versicolor. Microscopic image: “spaghetti and meatballs” – short curved mycelial filaments and “buds” of spores. Skin scraping, 20% KOH, magnification x400 + zoom.

Yeast-like Fungi in Skin Scrapings: Microscopic Examination

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 09:24:00 +0300

Skin scraping - yeast-like fungi.

The image was kindly provided by Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Doctor Victoria Gerbutova, Krasnodar.

Malassezia Fungi Morphology in Skin Scrapes by Microscopy

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 08:10:27 +0300

Unipolar budding is a distinctive feature of fungi of the genus Malassezia. In English-language sources, this form is compared to peanut kernels. Skin scrape, KOH 20%, magnification x400+zoom.

Dermatophyte Mycelium in Skin Scrape Preparations

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:39:26 +0300

Dermatophyte mycelium. Skin scrape, KOH 20%, 30 minutes exposure. 👉 Material kindly provided by medical laboratory technician - Dmitry Emelyanov.

💎 Find more useful mycology resources in our LAB-TESTS library. The link with access to the library is automatically sent to you via private message after paying for a VK Donut Labformula subscription.

Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin: Cytological Features

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 19:30:00 +0300

✅ Skin Cytology. Basal cell carcinoma in a patient with suspected leishmaniasis. A patient, 80 years old, was referred to the laboratory for material collection from a lesion on the scalp to rule out leishmaniasis. Smears from the scrape revealed clusters of poorly visible cells in the form of an accumulation of hyperchromatic nuclei with indistinct, blurred contours, with coarse chromatin and no nucleoli, often devoid of cytoplasm. Characteristic of BCC. BCC (Basalioma) is a very common skin cancer (mainly on exposed areas) with locally destructive growth, practically no metastasis.

Elastic Fibers in Skin Scrapes: Distinguishing from Fungal Mycelia

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:30:00 +0300

Elastic fibers. Skin scrape. Magnification x400. KOH 20%, exposure 30 minutes. An inexperienced microscopist might confuse them with fungal mycelia. Elastic fibers are thinner, rarely branch, and lack the greenish sheen characteristic of mycelia when rotating the fine adjustment knob.