By Dhivya Bhaskaran
It is interesting to see the rapid advances of technology and the ways in which it can enhance the approaches to medicine, and particularly influence the field of dermatology. It has allowed for consistently accurate diagnosis in dermatology and aids the efficiency of various treatments. For example, Google unveiled a tool that is able to identify hair, skin and nail conditions, through pictures uploaded by patients with the use of artificial intelligence.
How do such advances play a pivotal role in making dermatology more accessible to people?
Firstly, according to HHS, the use of telemedicine saw a 63 fold increase since the start of the pandemic. This has been especially beneficial in the field of dermatology, as the skin is considered to be the “litmus paper” for the diagnosis of several diseases. This means that people can upload their photos to certain platforms, where specialized physicians, such as dermatologists, can diagnose conditions or prescribe further tests. Such advances aid patients in avoiding the long dermatology consultation waitlists for simpler cases.
The use of artificial intelligence further facilitates diagnosis of diseases through physical symptoms visible on the skin. An example of this is the Vectra WB360, which is a 3D visual imaging system that is able to take a 360 degree scan of the body to recognize any abnormalities in skin, such as pigmented lesions, psoriasis, vitiligo and more.
In addition, the deep learning system at IBM T.J. Watson Research Centre, and similar developments at Stanford University, allows for quick diagnosis of melanomas, without extensive biopsies. This system achieved 76% accuracy at diagnosing various melanomas through the use of dermatology images. This rate of accuracy is remarkable compared to the 70.5% accuracy achieved by eight dermatologists studying the same cases
As such, technology can play a pivotal role in the future of dermatology and diagnosis of health conditions. Although further research is needed to improve the accuracy of these systems, it is evident that digital developments have the potential to change the landscape of medicine, particularly in the field of dermatology.
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