Smartphone and computer cameras have opened up new possibilities for dermatology: there is now a whole field dedicated to the world of teledermatology, and a plethora of companies sprouting up for both physician and patient-facing dermatology apps and platforms.
But despite early promise, not all of these looking to strike it big in the smartphone dermatology market stuck around for the long haul. Spruce and Klara, companies originally in the dermatology space, have pivoted, both to some form of healthcare communication. Still, the field continues to grow.
Read on for a list of dermatological digital health platforms.
First Derm’s app Skin Image Search launched in beta in April. The app aims to use artificial intelligence to help people figure out exactly what their skin condition is. Users can upload a photo of their skin to the platform, where the AI will then match up the image to possible conditions. Right now the platform can identify the condition with 40 percent accuracy, and can narrow down the issue to the top five conditions that it could be with 80 percent accuracy, according to the company.
SkinVision is a cancer screening app available in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe. The app is designed to automatically take a photo when it detects the lesion. The technology can then use machine learning to evaluate the lesion and characterize the risk. The app is currently labeled as non-diagnostic. It could be coming to the US soon — in July the company said it would use its latest funding of $7.6 million to move forward with an FDA submission and US launch.
VisualDX is a provider-facing tool. It allows clinicians to search a diagnosis across images, symptomsm and other clinical information. It also lets doctors look at how medications can impact the patient, including adverse effects that they may experience. Providers using the platform have access to over 32,000 images that show disease variation.
The American Academy of Dermatology offers its own mobile apps for both patients and providers. The provider apps include a Mohs AUC app, which helps doctors decide when surgery is appropriate and a chronic urticaria physician app, which helps dermatologists diagnose and treat chronic urticaria. It also lists a chronic hives patient app, which gives patients resources and information about their hives.
San Francisco-based Doctor Hazel AI is another company the employs AI technology to screen for skin cancer. The technology is designed to assist doctors in their diagnosing practice, instead of replacing it. Currently the company is in the process of collecting more data and is recruiting participants to join its beta version. At TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017, the company said that after one day and thousands of image downloads the AI was able to identify cancer at an 85 percent success rate. 
YoDerm lets its users connect with dermatologists online and get prescriptions through a digital platform. Users fill out an online medical consultation with pictures and submit that to a dermatologist. The dermatologist can then prescribe the user medication. The startup can prescribe for acne, male pattern baldness, and longer eye lashes.
Hims, a men’s health products and medication platform that delivers its services through the mail, has recently begun to grow its skincare offerings. In order to get a prescription, customers fill out a digital assessment on the website that a network of doctors uses to assess specific needs. The company’s platform also includes a telemedicine component. The company has been expanding to include cold sore and acne medications as well as anti-aging cream.
