British Journal of Dermatology

<jats:p>On May 24th 2025, the Seventy-Eighth World Health Assembly (WHA78) adopted a resolution recognising skin diseases as a global public health priority. This reflects a collective commitment from WHO member states to strengthen policies, secure resources, and improve care for those affected by skin diseases. This milestone comes a decade after the launch of the Grand Challenges in Global Skin Health initiative (GSHi).</jats:p>

Grand Challenges for Skin Health Revisited: The International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) Skin Disease Atlases.

Grand Challenges for Skin Health Revisited: The International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) Skin Disease Atlases

JAMA Dermatology

<jats:sec id="ab-dbr240004-4"><jats:title>Importance</jats:title><jats:p>With advancements in mobile technology and artificial intelligence (AI) methods, there has been a substantial surge in the availability of direct-to-consumer mobile applications (apps) claiming to aid in the assessment and management of diverse skin conditions. Despite widespread patient downloads, these apps exhibit limited evidence supporting their efficacy.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="ab-dbr240004-5"><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>To identify and characterize current English-language AI dermatology mobile apps available for download, focusing on aspects such as purpose, supporting evidence, regulatory status, clinician input, data privacy measures, and use of image data.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="ab-dbr240004-6"><jats:title>Evidence Review</jats:title><jats:p>In this cross-sectional study, both Apple and Android mobile app stores were systematically searched for dermatology-related apps that use AI algorithms. Each app’s purpose, target audience, evidence-based claims, algorithm details, data availability, clinician input during development, and data usage privacy policies were evaluated.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="ab-dbr240004-7"><jats:title>Findings</jats:title><jats:p>A total of 909 apps were initially identified. Following the removal of 518 duplicates, 391 apps remained. Subsequent review excluded 350 apps due to nonmedical nature, non-English languages, absence of AI features, or unavailability, ultimately leaving 41 apps for detailed analysis. The findings revealed several concerning aspects of the current landscape of AI apps in dermatology. Notably, none of the apps were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and only 2 of the apps included disclaimers for the lack of regulatory approval. Overall, the study found that these apps lack supporting evidence, input from clinicians and/or dermatologists, and transparency in algorithm development, data usage, and user privacy.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="ab-dbr240004-8"><jats:title>Conclusions and Relevance</jats:title><jats:p>This cross-sectional study determined that although AI dermatology mobile apps hold promise for improving access to care and patient outcomes, in their current state, they may pose harm due to potential risks, lack of consistent validation, and misleading user communication. Addressing challenges in efficacy, safety, and transparency through effective regulation, validation, and standardized evaluation criteria is essential to harness the benefits of these apps while minimizing risks.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Mobile applications in dermatology.

JAMA Dermatol

Accuracy of commercially available smartphone applications for the detection of melanoma.

Br J Dermatol

Algorithm based smartphone apps to assess risk of skin cancer in adults: systematic review of diagnostic accuracy studies.

Artificial intelligence-based skin cancer phone apps unreliable.

JAMA

AI-based smartphone apps for risk assessment of skin cancer need more evaluation and better regulation.

Br J Cancer

Smartphone applications for triaging adults with skin lesions that are suspicious for melanoma.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev

Multinational landscape of health app policy: toward regulatory consensus on digital health.

NPJ Digit Med

Health app policy: international comparison of nine countries’ approaches.

Comparison of humans versus mobile phone-powered artificial intelligence for the diagnosis and management of pigmented skin cancer in secondary care: a multicentre, prospective, diagnostic, clinical trial.

Lancet Digit Health

The HAM10000 dataset, a large collection of multi-source dermatoscopic images of common pigmented skin lesions.

Sci Data

Expanding personalized, data-driven dermatology: leveraging digital health technology and machine learning to improve patient outcomes.

JID Innov

Checklist for evaluation of image-based artificial intelligence reports in dermatology: CLEAR derm consensus guidelines from the international skin imaging collaboration artificial intelligence working group.

With advancements in mobile technology and artificial intelligence (AI) methods, there has been a substantial surge in the availability of direct-to-consumer mobile applications (apps) claiming to aid in the assessment and management of diverse skin conditions. Despite widespread patient downloads, these apps exhibit limited evidence supporting their efficacy.
To identify and characterize current English-language AI dermatology mobile apps available for download, focusing on aspects such as purpose, supporting evidence, regulatory status, clinician input, data privacy measures, and use of image data.
In this cross-sectional study, both Apple and Android mobile app stores were systematically searched for dermatology-related apps that use AI algorithms. Each app's purpose, target audience, evidence-based claims, algorithm details, data availability, clinician input during development, and data usage privacy policies were evaluated.
A total of 909 apps were initially identified. Following the removal of 518 duplicates, 391 apps remained. Subsequent review excluded 350 apps due to nonmedical nature, non-English languages, absence of AI features, or unavailability, ultimately leaving 41 apps for detailed analysis. The findings revealed several concerning aspects of the current landscape of AI apps in dermatology. Notably, none of the apps were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and only 2 of the apps included disclaimers for the lack of regulatory approval. Overall, the study found that these apps lack supporting evidence, input from clinicians and/or dermatologists, and transparency in algorithm development, data usage, and user privacy.
This cross-sectional study determined that although AI dermatology mobile apps hold promise for improving access to care and patient outcomes, in their current state, they may pose harm due to potential risks, lack of consistent validation, and misleading user communication. Addressing challenges in efficacy, safety, and transparency through effective regulation, validation, and standardized evaluation criteria is essential to harness the benefits of these apps while minimizing risks.

Current State of Dermatology Mobile Applications With Artificial Intelligence Features.

Current State of Dermatology Mobile Applications With Artificial Intelligence Features

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Several large studies on the burden of skin diseases have been performed in patients recruited in hospitals or clinical centres, thus missing people with skin diseases who do not undergo a clinical consultation.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>To evaluate the burden of the most common dermatological diseases in adult patients across Europe, in terms of quality of life, work life, and stigmatization.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Population‐based survey on a representative sample of the European general population aged 18 years or older. Participants who declared to have had one or more skin problem or disease during the previous 12 months completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire, and answered questions regarding the impact of their skin disease on daily and work life, anxiety/depression, and stigmatization.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The study population included 19,915 individuals, 44.7% of whom were men. Quality of life was particularly impaired in people with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and sexually transmitted diseases. About a half of participants with acne, alopecia, or chronic urticaria, and about 40% of those with atopic dermatitis (AD), skin cancers, or psoriasis reported a modest to extremely large effect of the disease on their quality of life. Overall, 88.1% of participants considered their skin disease as embarrassing in personal life and 83% in work life. About half of the respondents reported sleeping difficulty, feeling tired, and impact of the disease on taking care of themselves. Concerning stigmatization, 14.5% felt to have been rejected by others because of the skin disease, and 19.2% to have been looked at with disgust. Anxiety and depression were frequently reported by patients with all the diseases.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Skin diseases may heavily affect patients' daily and work life, and cause feelings of stigmatization. An early intervention is needed to avoid consequences on the patients' life course.</jats:p></jats:sec>

publication_history

received

accepted

published

Several large studies on the burden of skin diseases have been performed in patients recruited in hospitals or clinical centres, thus missing people with skin diseases who do not undergo a clinical consultation.
To evaluate the burden of the most common dermatological diseases in adult patients across Europe, in terms of quality of life, work life, and stigmatization.
Population-based survey on a representative sample of the European general population aged 18 years or older. Participants who declared to have had one or more skin problem or disease during the previous 12 months completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire, and answered questions regarding the impact of their skin disease on daily and work life, anxiety/depression, and stigmatization.
The study population included 19,915 individuals, 44.7% of whom were men. Quality of life was particularly impaired in people with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and sexually transmitted diseases. About a half of participants with acne, alopecia, or chronic urticaria, and about 40% of those with atopic dermatitis (AD), skin cancers, or psoriasis reported a modest to extremely large effect of the disease on their quality of life. Overall, 88.1% of participants considered their skin disease as embarrassing in personal life and 83% in work life. About half of the respondents reported sleeping difficulty, feeling tired, and impact of the disease on taking care of themselves. Concerning stigmatization, 14.5% felt to have been rejected by others because of the skin disease, and 19.2% to have been looked at with disgust. Anxiety and depression were frequently reported by patients with all the diseases.
Skin diseases may heavily affect patients' daily and work life, and cause feelings of stigmatization. An early intervention is needed to avoid consequences on the patients' life course.

Quality of life and stigmatization in people with skin diseases in Europe: A large survey from the 'burden of skin diseases' EADV project.

Quality of life and stigmatization in people with skin diseases in Europe: A large survey from the ‘burden of skin diseases’ <scp>EADV</scp> project

Papers