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An Bras Dermatol 2020 May - Jun;95(3):298-306. Epub 2020 Mar 21.

Gram-positive Cocci Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Background: The increasingly frequent use of dermoscopy makes us think about the possibility of transfer of microorganisms, through the dermatoscope, between doctor and patients.

Objectives: To identify the most frequent gram-positive cocci in dermatoscopes and smartphone adapters, as well as the resistance profile, and to evaluate the factors associated with a higher risk of bacterial contamination of the dermatoscopes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 118 dermatologists from Porto Alegre/Brazil between September 2017 and July 2018. Read More

BMJ 2020 02 10;368:m127. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Objective: To examine the validity and findings of studies that examine the accuracy of algorithm based smartphone applications ("apps") to assess risk of skin cancer in suspicious skin lesions.

Design: Systematic review of diagnostic accuracy studies.

Data Sources: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, CPCI, Zetoc, Science Citation Index, and online trial registers (from database inception to 10 April 2019). Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2019 Nov 14;19(22). Epub 2019 Nov 14.

Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.

Over recent years, there has been an increase in popularity of the acquisition of dermoscopic skin lesion images using mobile devices, more specifically using the smartphone camera. The demand for self-care and telemedicine solutions requires suitable methods to guide and evaluate the acquired images' quality in order to improve the monitoring of skin lesions. In this work, a system for automated focus assessment of dermoscopic images was developed using a feature-based machine learning approach. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2019 10 2;2(10):e1913436. Epub 2019 Oct 2.

Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals, Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Importance: A high proportion of suspicious pigmented skin lesions referred for investigation are benign. Techniques to improve the accuracy of melanoma diagnoses throughout the patient pathway are needed to reduce the pressure on secondary care and pathology services.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of an artificial intelligence algorithm in identifying melanoma in dermoscopic images of lesions taken with smartphone and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. Read More

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2019 Nov-Dec;85(6):641-647

Camera Culture, MIT Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts, USA.

Maturitas 2019 Nov 30;129:1-5. Epub 2019 Jul 30.

ADMR, Paris, France.

Background: The care model for supporting elderly people living independently at home relies on the informal and formal assistance of caregivers. Information and communication technology (ICT) offers new approaches for informal care services for this group.

Methods: A longitudinal observational pilot study was carried out in home services in France. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2019 Aug 5;19(15). Epub 2019 Aug 5.

Global Digital Health Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP, UK.

The rapid evolution of technology, sensors and personal digital devices offers an opportunity to acquire health related data seamlessly, unobtrusively and in real time. In this opinion piece, we discuss the relevance and opportunities for using digital sensing in dermatology, taking eczema as an exemplar. Read More

BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2019 08 5;19(1):155. Epub 2019 Aug 5.

Dermatology Trainee, Asad Alhamad Dermatology Center, Al-Sabah Health Region, Kuwait.

Background: The potential for smartphones to revolutionize the way that medical doctors practice has become a reality, particularly in specialities where visual examination is a principal step in assessing a medical case, like dermatology. Smartphones as devices hold similar capabilities to personal computers and laptops and could play an important role in supporting medical practitioners in clinical practice at the point of care and beyond. This study aimed to assess the role of smartphone technology use in dermatology practice in Kuwait, together with the potential of digital photography and users' concerns. Read More

Int J Cosmet Sci 2019 Oct 4;41(5):472-478. Epub 2019 Sep 4.

ModiFace - A L'Oréal Group Company, 7 St. Thomas St, Suite 502-504, Toronto, On, M5S 1B7, Canada.

Objective: To confirm the robustness and validity of an automatic scoring system, algorithm-based, that grades the severity of nine facial signs through "selfies" smartphones pictures taken by European Caucasian women through dermatological assessments.

Methods: 157 Caucasian women from three countries (France, Germany, Spain), of different ages (20-75 years), took one "selfie" image by the frontal camera of their smartphones whereas local dermatologists photographed them with the back camera of the same smartphone. The same nine facial signs of these subjects were initially graded by these local dermatologists, using referential Skin Aging Atlases. Read More

A A Pract 2019 Jul;13(1):37-38

From the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Dental injury is a common cause of malpractice claims involving anesthesiologists. Inadequate preoperative dental evaluations and incomplete documentation are often cited as contributing factors during reviews of closed claims. Point-of-care smartphone photographs are widely used in other medical fields such as dermatology and plastic surgery. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019 07;33(7):1197-1198

Department Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.

Clin Exp Dermatol 2020 Jan 21;45(1):73-78. Epub 2019 May 21.

Open Lab, School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Teledermatology generally involves doctors taking images of patients; however, patients increasingly want to own or have easy access to their health data. MySkinSelfie ( http://myskinselfie.com) is a mobile phone application (app) designed to improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of patient-held photos, and was developed to give patients the ability to generate and hold their own skin images to help guide their skin care. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2019 Mar 15;25(3). Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Objective: To measure adherence using a novel home UVB phototherapy system designed to promote adherence.

Study Design: A retrospective, observational study conducted to evaluate patients' adherence to a prescribed three-times-per-week treatment protocol using a novel home phototherapy system with integrated features designed to improve adherence.

Methods: Data was collected from 18 psoriasis patients, 27 vitiligo patients, and three atopic dermatitis patients using a novel home phototherapy system under normal use conditions. Read More

Skin Res Technol 2019 Sep 3;25(5):612-617. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.

Background: Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and surface capacitance measure skin barrier permeability and stratum corneum (SC) hydration, respectively, and are frequently utilized in atopic dermatitis clinical trials. Many barrier devices are costly and often used only in the academic setting. GPSkin is a low-cost, patient-operated device that measures both TEWL and SC hydration. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2019 02 15;25(2). Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Background: Phototherapy is effective in treating psoriasis and other skin conditions. However, clinic-based phototherapy can be time-consuming, expensive, and inconvenient. Conventional home phototherapy addresses many hurdles, but has other limitations. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019 Jul 1;33(7):1363-1368. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Dermatology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: The influence of particulate matter (PM) on human health has recently attracted attention. However, most previous studies have been limited to diseased skin.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of PM on healthy skin. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2019 Aug 29;81(2):e27-e28. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Int J Dermatol 2019 Mar 17;58(3):345-349. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Background: Several dermoscopy training programs have found the accuracy of dermoscopy examination depends on adequate training of practitioners. Smartphones are readily available and time-efficient tools for dermoscopy training.

Aim: To evaluate the learning efficacy of utilizing dermoscopy smartphone wallpapers to train medical students, PGY (postgraduate year)-1 trainees, and junior dermatological residents without prior dermoscopy training. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 12 4;12:CD013192. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, B15 2TT.

Background: Melanoma accounts for a small proportion of all skin cancer cases but is responsible for most skin cancer-related deaths. Early detection and treatment can improve survival. Smartphone applications are readily accessible and potentially offer an instant risk assessment of the likelihood of malignancy so that the right people seek further medical attention from a clinician for more detailed assessment of the lesion. Read More

Br J Dermatol 2018 12;179(6):1246-1247

Department of Dermatology, King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, U.K.

Br J Dermatol 2018 12 4;179(6):1424-1432. Epub 2018 Nov 4.

Department of Dermatology, King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, U.K.

Br J Dermatol 2018 11;179(5):1025-1026

University of Colorado School of Medicine, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, U.S.A.

Int J Med Inform 2018 11 13;119:94-102. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Department of Medical Education, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana, Private Bag UB 0022, Gaborone, Botswana.

Background: Enabling personal mobile device use through a bring-your-own device (BYOD) policy can potentially save significant costs for medical schools and healthcare facilities, as they would not always have to acquire facility-owned devices. The BYOD policy is also perceived as a driver for balancing user needs for convenience with institutional needs for security. However, there seems to be a paucity in the literature on BYOD policy development, policy evaluation, and evaluation of mobile device implementation projects. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019 Mar 4;33(3):511-520. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

The striking rise in the Internet utilization worldwide has led to major changes in the methods of data collection and processing. Online surveying has been used to assess different health services, explore patients' perceptions and measure interventions. The discipline of dermatology is one of the fields that gained benefits from surveying patients and dermatologists online; however, some disadvantages such as the low response rate and participation bias were suggested. Read More

J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 2019 04 10;8(2):122-130. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

9 Multicare Health System, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital , Tacoma, Washington.

Purpose: This study evaluated oral medication adherence among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer during a trial of a smartphone-based medication reminder application (app).

Methods: Twenty-three AYAs receiving at least one prescribed, scheduled oral medication related to their outpatient cancer treatment participated in this 12-week single-group interrupted time series longitudinal design study. Baseline oral medication adherence was monitored using electronic monitoring caps for 4 weeks. Read More

Stud Health Technol Inform 2018 ;254:70-76

Department of TeleHealth, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

The use of smartphones and IM has the potential to transform the delivery of health services by providing an easy to use, cost-effective tool for remote doctor-to-doctor and patient-to-doctor consultation and diagnosis. Whilst the introduction of new technologies has improved access to healthcare, it has also created new challenges. The aim of this paper was to review the literature on the use of Instant Messaging (IM) and IM applications (apps) in dermatology. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2019 Feb 26;58(2):228-230. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

Consultant Dermatologist, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, England.

In order to deliver equal healthcare access to resource-poor settings, sustainable, cost-effective systems of communication should be used. As mobile phone use increases, remote care can be delivered via teledermatology using Apps. This commentary covers how WhatsApp could be used by dermatologists seeking to deliver healthcare in this context. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2018 Sep 22;18(10). Epub 2018 Sep 22.

Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.

Diabetes has become a chronic metabolic disorder, and the growing diabetes population makes medical care more important. We investigated using a portable and noninvasive contact lens as an ideal sensor for diabetes patients whose tear fluid contains glucose. The key feature is the reversible covalent interaction between boronic acid and glucose, which can provide a noninvasive glucose sensor for diabetes patients. Read More

Int J Med Inform 2018 10 10;118:99-112. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Centre For Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia.

Background: Smartphone applications ("apps") exist for primary and secondary prevention of melanoma. Our aim was to review currently available apps for community, patient and generalist clinician users.

Design: Prospective study, April 2017 - May 2017. Read More

Am J Clin Dermatol 2018 Oct;19(5):779-785

Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a mobile application (app) in patients already using total body photography (TBP) to increase skin self-examination (SSE) rates and pilot the effectiveness of examination reminders and accountability partners.

Design: Randomized controlled trial with computer generated randomization table to allocate interventions.

Setting: University of Pennsylvania pigmented lesion clinic. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2018 09;154(9):1085-1086

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.

Clin Exp Allergy 2018 12 20;48(12):1640-1653. Epub 2018 Aug 20.

Contre les MAladies Chroniques pour un VIeillissement Actif en France European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing Reference Site, Montpellier, France.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) management has changed in recent years following the switch from the concept of disease severity to the concept of disease control, publication of the AR clinical decision support system (CDSS) and development of mobile health (m-health) tools for patients (eg Allergy Diary). The Allergy Diary Companion app for healthcare providers is currently being developed and will be launched in 2018. It incorporates the AR CDSS to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations, linking all key stakeholders in AR management. Read More

Br J Dermatol 2019 02 19;180(2):373-381. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Dermatology Division, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, 305-8577.

Background: Application of deep-learning technology to skin cancer classification can potentially improve the sensitivity and specificity of skin cancer screening, but the number of training images required for such a system is thought to be extremely large.

Objectives: To determine whether deep-learning technology could be used to develop an efficient skin cancer classification system with a relatively small dataset of clinical images.

Methods: A deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) was trained using a dataset of 4867 clinical images obtained from 1842 patients diagnosed with skin tumours at the University of Tsukuba Hospital from 2003 to 2016. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2018 Apr 15;24(4). Epub 2018 Apr 15.

Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, California.

Store-and-forward teledermatology involves transmission of a patient's images to a healthcare provider and subsequent response from the provider about the diagnosis or management. Furthermore, teledermatology in which mobile phones (e.g. Read More

Lasers Surg Med 2018 12 6;50(10):1034-1039. Epub 2018 Jun 6.

Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusett and Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Objective: The identification of veins by medical personnel is a critical skill that is necessary to draw blood or administer intravenous fluids and medications. Because a normal consumer camera can act as a multispectral imaging apparatus, operating with three broadband detectors, we hypothesized that a standard smartphone camera might be employed for enhanced visualization of veins in human skin.

Study: Video and images of subcutaneous veins were acquired using the rear-facing iSight camera from an iPhone 6, with a fixed aperture of f/2. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2018 06;154(6):730-731

Section of Dermatology, West Virginia University, Morgantown.

J Photochem Photobiol B 2018 Jul 14;184:27-33. Epub 2018 May 14.

Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

Nowcasting model for online monitoring of personal outdoor behaviour is proposed. It is envisaged that it will provide an effective e-tool used by smartphone users. The model could estimate maximum duration of safe (without erythema risk) outdoor activity. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2018 12 27;32(12):e457-e458. Epub 2018 May 27.

Department of Dermatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2018 12 28;32(12):e457. Epub 2018 May 28.

Department of Dermatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Br J Dermatol 2018 11 5;179(5):1062-1071. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

Background: Adherence to topical psoriasis treatments is low, which leads to unsatisfactory treatment results. Smartphone applications (apps) for patient support exist but their potential to improve adherence has not been systematically evaluated.

Objectives: To evaluate whether a study-specific app improves adherence and reduces psoriasis symptoms compared with standard treatment. Read More

J Med Internet Res 2018 04 13;20(4):e135. Epub 2018 Apr 13.

Unit 1232 - Team 2, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Nantes, France.

Background: The early diagnosis of melanoma is associated with decreased mortality. The smartphone, with its apps and the possibility of sending photographs to a dermatologist, could improve the early diagnosis of melanoma.

Objective: The aim of our review was to report the evidence on (1) the diagnostic performance of automated smartphone apps and store-and-forward teledermatology via a smartphone in the early detection of melanoma, (2) the impact on the patient's medical-care course, and (3) the feasibility criteria (focusing on the modalities of picture taking, transfer of data, and time to get a reply). Read More

Dermatol Online J 2018 Feb 15;24(2). Epub 2018 Feb 15.

Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado Dermatology Service, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, Colorado Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado.

Background: More than 80% of households in the US have a smartphone. Growth of mobile applications (apps) has grown in parallel with access to smartphones. Mobile health apps are used in medical fields, including dermatology. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2018 Sep 7;79(3):520-524. Epub 2018 Mar 7.

Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address:

Background: Various means to facilit ate accurate biopsy site identification have been proposed.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of biopsy site identification by using photographs taken with a patient's digital device by a dermatologist versus professional medical photography.

Methods: Photographs of circled biopsy sites were taken with personal digital devices by the principal investigator (PI). Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2018 04;154(4):420-427

School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Importance: The standard model of follow-up posttreatment of localized melanoma relies on clinician detection of recurrent or new melanoma, through routinely scheduled clinics (clinician-led surveillance). An alternative model is to increase reliance on patient detection of melanoma, with fewer scheduled visits and increased support for patients' skin self-examination (SSE) (eg, using smartphone apps to instruct, prompt and record SSE, and facilitate teledermatology; patient-led surveillance).

Objective: To determine the proportion of adults treated for localized melanoma who prefer the standard scheduled visit frequency (as per Australian guideline recommendations) or fewer scheduled visits (adapted from the Melanoma Follow-up [MELFO] study of reduced follow-up). Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2018 Sep 10;79(3):564-567. Epub 2018 Feb 10.

Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address:

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2018 Oct 6;32(10):1804-1809. Epub 2018 Mar 6.

Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.

Background: Medical photography enhances patient care, medical education and research. Despite medical photography's widespread use, little is known about how dermatologists choose to implement photography in routine clinical practice, and how they approach issues of image storage, image security and patient consent.

Objective: To characterize dermatologists' medical photography habits and opinions. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2018 Apr 5;57(4):458-462. Epub 2018 Feb 5.

Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals, Taipei and Linkou, Taiwan.

Introduction: Medical students and residents will encounter many cutaneous fungal infections in medical practice. However, the training for identification of medical fungi has been insufficient due to limited lecture-based courses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of using smartphone-based wallpapers in learning the microscopic morphology and colony characteristics of medical fungi for medical students and residents. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2018 01;32(1)

Contact Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Australas J Dermatol 2018 Aug 2;59(3):168-170. Epub 2018 Jan 2.

Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

A research team at Stanford recently reported that their deep convolutional neural network had learned to classify skin cancer with a level of competence equivalent to that of board-certified dermatologists. It is possible that in time, and using larger datasets, such software may surpass the average doctor in diagnostic ability, and that highly accurate technology may be available to both clinicians and patients via smartphones. This technology is poised to change the landscape of skin cancer diagnosis for both physicians and patients, but whether such changes are beneficial will depend on how they are regulated and implemented. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2017 12;153(12):1243-1248

Section of Dermatology, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Importance: Advances in smartphone photography (both quality and image transmission) may improve access to care via direct parent-to-clinician telemedicine. However, the accuracy of diagnoses that are reliant on parent-provided photographs has not been formally compared with diagnoses made in person.

Objective: To assess whether smartphone photographs of pediatric skin conditions taken by parents are of sufficient quality to permit accurate diagnosis. Read More