From online advice to skin progress tracking apps, people are increasingly turning away from medical professionals—GPs and dermatologists—for their skincare needs. According to a study titled Assessing the Public’s Preferences and Outcomes in Using Online Resources and Digital Health Tools to Manage Skin Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study, the primary reason for seeking online solutions was convenience (53.6%), followed by curiosity or self-education (42%). I spoke with three experts to explore why dermatology’s shift to digital platforms could potentially benefit both patients and ease pressures on healthcare systems.
Maral Kibarian Skelsey, MD, Clinical Professor at Georgetown University Medical Center
Dermatology is undergoing a transformative shift as digital technologies become increasingly integrated into clinical practice. Teledermatology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital imaging are at the forefront of this evolution, reshaping how skin conditions are assessed, monitored and treated. These innovations may improve access, efficiency and diagnostic accuracy, but they also present new challenges for both patients and dermatologists.
Teledermatology—whether synchronous (live video consultations) or asynchronous (store-and-forward image sharing)—has expanded dramatically, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers patients enhanced access to specialised care, especially those in rural or underserved areas. For providers, teledermatology increases workflow flexibility and the ability to triage cases more effectively, focusing in-person visits on higher-complexity cases. However, image quality and the inability to perform physical examinations drastically limit diagnostic accuracy, particularly in evaluating subtle textural changes. Lighting and quality of photography have an enormous impact on the ability of a dermatologist to assess pigmented lesions. Store and forward photography are usually of higher quality, but these are most useful for a single lesion as it’s not practical for a full body skin exam where comparison of multiple pigment naevi is necessary to determine if a lesion is the ‘ugly duckling,’ that requires further evaluation.
AI is another transformative tool, with algorithms capable of analysing clinical and dermoscopic images to assist in diagnosing conditions like melanoma. These technologies promise to reduce diagnostic errors and streamline decision-making, but they also raise concerns about data privacy, algorithmic bias and the need for ongoing clinician oversight. AI should be seen as an adjunct to, not a replacement for, the clinical judgement of a board-certified dermatologist.
Digital imaging and mobile apps have empowered patients to track their skin health over time, encouraging proactive management and early intervention. Yet, this can also lead to over-monitoring or anxiety about benign lesions, increasing unnecessary consultations.
From the physician’s perspective, integrating digital platforms with existing electronic health records, ensuring cybersecurity, and maintaining HIPAA compliance requires significant resources and training. Moreover, reimbursement policies and licensure regulations can lag behind the pace of technological adoption, creating logistical hurdles.
The digital transformation of dermatology holds great promise for enhancing care delivery and patient engagement. However, its success depends on carefully balancing technological capabilities with clinical expertise, safeguarding patient data, and maintaining equitable access. Board-certified dermatologists must remain adaptive—embracing innovation while preserving the personalised care and diagnostic rigour that define our speciality.
Shanna Bynes Bradford, Grow Out Oils Clinical Aromatherapy Company
Dermatology has evolved into a space that has interface with digital software to give patients and dermatology providers more flexibility by allowing patients to access appointments scheduling, upload personal information via patient dashboard and being able to recommend products for pre and post care treatment.
Technology such as:
- Teledermatology enables patients to consult with dermatologists remotely via video calls. It’s ideal for follow-ups, non-urgent consultations and reviewing prescriptions.
- Dermatology mobile apps help patients track symptoms, monitor skin conditions, and receive personalised feedback. Some use AI to assess images and guide treatment.
- Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) provide access to a patient’s medical history, prescriptions, lab results, and support coordinated care.
- Patient digital education offers videos, interactive tools and other resources to help patients understand their conditions and treatment options, encouraging active involvement in their care.
Digital technologies have been vital with making patients feel more connected by accessing detailed protocol plan for their pre and post care treatment, as well as providing additional post-op information for invasive and non-invasive procedures that are offered by the dermatology practice.
Here is a breakdown of patient and provider benefits and challenges.
Patient benefits:
1. Patients can access their files quickly via the practice portal or using the mobile app.
2. Patients view the physician’s work schedule, treatment options, booking times and follow-up appointments.
3. New patients can upload and complete all digital forms and medical insurance within the app or patient portal.
Patient challenges:
1. Not all patients may be comfortable with using digital tools or apps.
2. Patients may be concerned about the privacy and security of their personal health information being shared on a digital platform.
3. Some skin assessments may need to be completed in person rather than using remote consultation for skin examination.
Provider benefits:
1. Providers are able to schedule and confirm patient appointments quickly to reduce workflow and manage patient load by implementing digital technology.
2. Providers can provide patients with better communication and engagement for accessing additional information on their procedure, pricing, post-care treatment plan and skincare products recommendations.
3. Providers have access to valuable information such as procedure and treatment outcomes, electronic medical records, analytics and data insights.
Provider challenges:
1. Providers experiencing issues trying to navigate the telemedicine technology process and be in compliance with state regulations with patient privacy and HIPAA laws.
2. Continuous updates and training for staff users and service providers for electronic medical records, telemedicine and patient privacy.
3. Patient reimbursement issues due to not all patient insurance cover digital health services, telemedicine or tele-dermatology, which can have a negative impact on the providers incentive and the patient access.
As technology advances, so will the need to implement and improve processes within the healthcare system so that patients can continue to grow with the practice. It’s going to be interesting to see what the next 10-12 years will look like in the dermatology sector for advanced skincare.
Dr Viktoryia Kazlosukaya, MD/PhD, Owner of Dermatology Circle
People are increasingly seeking convenience, and as a result, digital dermatology is on the rise. Some are looking for easier access to prescriptions—leading to the rapid growth of services like Hims/Hers, Alloy and Musely. Others are drawn to the ability to consult a dermatologist online by simply sending a photo and receiving a diagnosis.
The benefits are clear: convenience, accessibility—especially in areas where dermatologists are scarce and wait times can stretch for months—and often affordability, as these services tend to be lower-cost.
In straightforward cases, this model can work well. However, its limitations become more evident when dealing with more complex conditions. The downsides include less experienced providers, as highly trained dermatologists are less likely to participate in low-cost, high-volume platforms. There’s also a risk of misdiagnosis or incomplete assessment, since telemedicine can’t always provide the full picture needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Kyle Sobko, CEO at SonderCare
The shift in dermatology to a digital model is most evident with asynchronous telederm platforms: applications where patients upload photos and receive treatment plans without needing a live visit. This has improved access to diagnosis for remote and mobility-restricted patients. But the tradeoff is too significant. Lighting and camera quality can play a role, as can use of skin tone to influence a more accurate assessment. I saw this difference play out with one client who uploaded photos of a mole that she suspected was growing with a low-end smartphone. The outcome for her was a boilerplate treatment recommendation, and weeks later, a diagnosis of melanoma. It is not the technology, but how the experience is intentionally designed – a photo and form aren’t enough without careful escalation policies or real-time access when required.
From the provider’s perspective, dermatologists are required to make snap decisions on limited data. The platforms often favor rapid communication, which is not always good medicine. I have heard clinicians state they feel like they are practicing under a timer and they are burning out faster because they are reviewing photos and lengthy descriptions instead of seeing patients. That isolation compounds. Our team created a conduit from home-based nurses to dermatologists, where photos came with contextual notes and follow-up availability. This connected care improved the quality of care but did not add to much time.
On the patient side, the biggest advantage is not having to wait in a waiting room or travel for a benign complaint. However, I have also seen too many people take the digital dermatology option and treat it as a one and done, which inevitably leads to delayed care if things get worse. My conclusion? The value in this new approach comes when digital tools are appropriately used within long-term clinical practice rather than as a summarizing and immediate solution to a discrete issue. This requires a design that enables convenience, but is still situated within clinical judgment, not a replacement for
