Alcohol can be used as a diagnostic aid for patients with dyschromia commonly seen in terra firma-forme dermatosis, confluent and reticulate papillomatosis, and acanthosis nigricans. Although biopsy can definitively determine diagnosis, proper utilization of isopropyl alcohol may avert unnecessary procedures.
Collin M Blattner, Benjamin Perry, Karla Snider, John Young. Clinical pearl: increasing utility of isopropyl alcohol for cutaneous dyschromia. Cutis. 2016 Apr;97(4):287;301
PMID: 27163918
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