6 Innovative Dermatology Apps for Doctors and Patients

The use of apps is on the verge of a breakthrough in dermatology, including in teledermatology.

Dr Amanda Oakley, Founder of DermNet NZ, has medically reviewed the article, but not the mentioned apps.

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With the recent development of digital technology, the demand from consumers to monitor their own health and availability of health apps have also increased.

Apps are used for everything from running and fitness tracking to calorie counting. In recent years dermatology apps targeting dermatological conditions have also emerged.

Smartphone App Use for a Dermatological Diagnosis

Some companies are attempting to offer diagnostic dermatology apps to provide an instant diagnosis or assessment with an algorithm.

There are, however, many challenges with offering such an automatic dermatology diagnosis service through an app. You can read more about this topic in our article covering smartphone apps for a skin cancer diagnosis as it is out-of-scope for this article.

Because of the challenges in giving patient-specific advice, many apps are focusing instead on collecting and storing data such as images and patient records as well as supporting patient-led behavioral change – ideally with the oversight of the patient’s own physician.

Apps are also used to supply real-time information, such as the weather, which is relevant for some skin conditions.

Mobile Devices and Teledermatology – an Opportunity for a Strong Doctor-Patient Relationship

Mobile devices are already used for many different purposes in dermatological settings. Some doctors use their mobile phones as a reference lookup tool, while others use mobile devices to access medical information from patients’ electronic health records or add new information to the records.

Some doctors and their patients use mobile devices for photographic monitoring of dermatological conditions or as a surveillance tool to monitor skin changes.

Sometimes these photos are sent to a specialist.¹

The transmission of visual information together with the patient’s dermatological history for a dermatological online consultation also fits into the umbrella of teledermatology.

There are two main variants of teledermatology employing visual information:^2,3

• Store-and-forward (SAF): Asynchronous transmission of still images of the skin together with the patient’s dermatological history for an online consultation.
• Live interactive video: A real-time online interactive consultation with video and sound.

Store-and-forward telehealth is predominantly in dermatology due to its many advantages, including teletriage or etriage.

Sometimes the interaction is between consumers and a third-party healthcare practitioner in exchange for a fee, such as is the case in an online dermatologist service.

Teledermatology consultations are also increasingly used between patients and their dermatologists. This can enable the patient to get a quick assessment of a new symptom or to request a virtual prescription visit.

Furthermore, teledermatology can be used to follow up on a skin condition after the patient has initially seen the doctor in person. This is also known as remote patient monitoring.⁴

Patients also bring self-surveillance photos to consultations with their dermatologist or physician to share historical information on how their skin previously appeared or to document a skin change.

Sharing self-surveillance photos is in its asynchronous form related to store-and-forward teledermatology, but different in that it is combined with an in-person examination and interaction between the doctor and patient.

Read our guide for more in-depth information on teledermatology, and the Position Statement on Teledermatology by the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dermatology Apps Are Developed to Increase Efficiency and Security

With the ubiquitous availability of smartphones that can be used for teledermatology, self-surveillance, and educational interventions, the patient-dermatologist relationship is set to fundamentally change.

However, mobile devices in themselves are not enough. The standard features and functionality offered by standard mobile device apps are useful but not tailored to the health-related tasks consumers are trying to undertake. Bespoke, high-quality and safe dermatology apps are therefore needed.

Such dermatological apps help with increased usability if using a mobile device for photo monitoring purposes. They can also help structure and present the patient’s information or be used to manage reminders to follow up on self-monitoring or prescribed treatment.

Any data, such as images, captured through a custom app can be encrypted and protected for security and privacy. Data can also be backed up in a secure cloud backup ensuring vital information is not lost. Medical images can be separated from day-to-day photos such as holiday snaps.

Teledermatology apps with a cloud connection can be used to securely transmit information, such as images of the skin and patient’s dermatological history, in-between healthcare providers or from the patient to the doctor.

It is therefore not surprising, given the many potential benefits, that a lot of researchers and developers are working on addressing the needs by developing tailor-made health apps as a layer on top of smartphones for managing a variety of dermatological conditions.