Selfies may Help Detect Skin Problems

Taking selfies seem to be the in thing among teenagers but a new study reveals that it may be very useful for those with skin problems as well as taking a picture of the affected area and sending it to your dermatologist may be an effective way of getting a quick diagnosis. The study was conducted by researchers at University of Colorado, Denver, who recruited around 156 adults and children who were suffering from eczema. Around 78 people received typical in-person, follow-up care, while the remaining participants sent images of their affected region online and after dermatologists analyzed the pictures, they made treatment recommendations and prescribed medications.

At the end of one year, the researchers found that around 44 percent of those who received in-person care were found to be cleared or nearly-cleared of eczema while the number was 38 percent among those who exclusively received online care. The study has been published in the journal JAMA Dermatology.

“Health services delivery in dermatology is an exciting and evolving field. With the changing health care environment and a growing demand for dermatologic services, technology enabled health care delivery models have the potential to increase access and improve outcomes. As with any novel health services delivery models, comparative effectiveness studies investigating health outcomes are critical to evaluate these new models in an evidence-based approach”, lead author of the study April Armstrong said.



Source-Medindia