PracticalDermatology

The aptly named 2022 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Innovation Academy, which was held in Vancouver, British Columbia last month, highlighted several new technologies that may change or improve the way we practice dermatology in the coming years.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the innovations that were featured at the Future of Dermatology Symposium during the meeting.

Sklip System AI

The Sklip tool uses artificial intelligence (AI) to increase the early detection of skin cancers. It received Breakthrough Designation Device status by the FDA just last month.

The Sklip dermatoscope hardware attaches to a smartphone or tablet without an adapter. This allows the user to take high-definition images of moles. Sklip System AI software enables an automatic triage of skin lesions using an algorithm to determine if a lesion has features suspicious for skin cancer. It can be used to supplement in-office skin exams.

Status: Sklip Inc. is now beginning clinical trials at an academic health center in the US.

MDacne/MDhair Apps

These apps use image analysis and AI to help patients treat their acne or hair loss. They were created by Yoram Harth, MD, an Israel-based dermatologist and former research fellow at the department of dermatology at Columbia Presbyterian in New York City. Dr. Harth also serves as Chief Medical Officer at MDalgorithms, the company behind MDacne and MDhair.

Patients with acne or hair loss take a selfie on their smartphone and get a personalized treatment plan based on a proprietary dataset of 5 million images. They receive a complete kit of customized over-the-counter solutions for their skin concern. Users can also get 24/7 unlimited and free chat support from a team of dermatologists and registered nurses.

Status: Currently in use.

DermaSensor Handheld Elastic scattering spectroscopy (ESS) Device

There are several clinical tools available to aid the detection of skin cancers, including magnifying glasses, confocal microscopes, genetic marker testing, image-based AI devices, and dermoscopy, but each has its share of disadvantages. ESS is essentially an optical, non-invasive biopsy.

ESS is a handheld AI device that utilizes light wavelength emissions to analyze cellular and subcellular changes characteristic of malignant lesions. This device can help rule out biopsies on cosmetically sensitive areas or rule in and prioritize biopsies on patients with many moles.

In a study, device sensitivity was 97 percent for detecting all skin cancers and dermatologists’ sensitivity was 97 percent. The device specificity was 22 percent, compared to 37 percent for dermatologists, the study showed.

Status: Under investigation