A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; furthermore:
- Inspection (viewing).
- Skin, mucous membranes, and sclerae (white part of the eye).
- Inspection of skin under Wood light: Wood light (Wood lamp) is used in dermatology to examine fluorescent disease foci and pigmentary changes on the skin. The light of the Wood lamp is in the range of long-wave UV-A light (340-360 nm). Dermatoses (skin diseases) that produce a special fluorescent effect on the skin are, for example, tinea capitis (head fungus) and tinea versicolor (Kleienpilzflechte, also: Kleieflechte).
- Skin, mucous membranes, and sclerae (white part of the eye).
- If necessary, inspection and palpation (palpation) of the joints [arthritis (joint inflammation), mainly the small joints such as finger or toe joints; rarely in the spine (in psoriasis)].
- Inspection (viewing).
