JMIR Dermatology
JMIR Dermatology is the official journal of the International Society of Digital Health in Dermatology (ISDHD), formerly the International Society of Teledermatology (ISTD).
Editor-in-Chief:
Robert Dellavalle, MD, PhD, MSPH, Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota Medical School
CiteScore 1.2
Recent Articles

Introduction: With Americans spending over two hours daily on social media, platforms like TikTok have become prevalent sources for healthcare information. This study evaluates the quality and quantity of dermatology-related content on TikTok. Methods: In November 2022, TikTok was searched using dermatology-related keywords. Accounts with ≥50% dermatology content were selected. An engagement score was calculated for each account, and the top 10 were further analyzed using DISCERN criteria. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, along with a two-tailed independent t-test, were employed for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 22,411 videos, 17,085 (76.3%) were informational. Dermatologists led in paid sponsorship videos (65% of 502 videos). Significant differences in engagement scores were found across different provider types, with medical clinics and aestheticians receiving the highest scores. Dermatologist-run accounts had higher views and comments but similar overall DISCERN scores to non-dermatologist accounts. However, dermatologists better referenced treatment uncertainty and explanations, while non-dermatologists more frequently discussed treatment risks. Discussion: The substantial engagement with dermatology content on TikTok highlights its role as a significant information source, albeit with generally low educational quality. Given the high consumer trust in TikTok, dermatologists face an ethical obligation to improve the accuracy and quality of their online content to counteract potential misinformation.

Dermoscopy is a non-invasive technology used to examine the skin's invisible microstructures in dermatological practice and is gaining prominence as a crucial tool. Dermoscopy is an evidence-based practice employed to enhance the early detection of skin malignancies and to help distinguish between various skin conditions, including pigmented and non-pigmented skin malignancies. Currently, the vast majority of global guidelines for skin cancer recommend dermoscopy as a critical component. The use of dermoscopy is increasing worldwide, but to date, no study has documented the attitudes toward and use of dermoscopy among future dermatologists in Saudi Arabia.


Our team explored the utility of unpaid versions of three artificial intelligence chatbots in offering patient-facing responses to questions about five common dermatological diagnosis, and highlights the strengths and limitations of different AI chatbots, while demonstrating how chatbots present the most potential in tandem with a dermatologist’s diagnosis.

Online digital materials are essential for patient education and healthcare outcomes in dermatology. Acanthosis nigricans is a common condition often associated with underlying diseases such as insulin resistance. Patients may search the internet for information related to this cutaneous finding. To our knowledge, there has not been an examination of the quality of online educational materials for acanthosis nigricans.

Thus far, considerable research has been focused on classifying a lesion as benign or malignant. However, there is a requirement for quick depth estimation of a lesion for the accurate clinical staging of the lesion. The lesion could be malignant and quickly grow beneath the skin. While biopsy slides provide clear information on lesion depth, it is an emerging domain to find quick and noninvasive methods to estimate depth, particularly based on 2D images.

In the United States, the financial burden of prescription medications has increased exponentially over time. Recently, Mark Cuban founded the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (CostPlus) to help address prescription medication unaffordability. To assess the efficacy of this new pharmaceutical model within dermatology, we conducted an observational cost study of common dermatologic drugs between CostPlus and GoodRx in the New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago metropolitan areas. The average cost of 15 common dermatology medications was $17.00 through CostPlus compared to $31.21 through GoodRx (P<0.001). The cost on GoodRx when isolating for the cheapest price available was $21.24 (P=0.026). Our results indicate that CostPlus has the potential to improve the financial burden of prescription medications within dermatology and should be further explored.

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study aims to characterize the worldwide prevalence and morbidity of major diseases, while PatientsLikeMe (PLM) is an online community providing patient-generated insights into lived experiences; for dermatologic conditions, quantitative comparisons of GBD and PLM data revealed expected demographic differences but also notable correlations, highlighting their potential as complementary data sources elucidating unmet patient needs and priorities.

Pigmentary disorders have been implicated in causing psychosocial turmoil in patients because it can cause some degree of cosmetic disfigurement. Lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) presents as ashy dermatosis-like eruption on sun exposed areas, particularly on the head, neck and earlobes. On the other hand, vitiligo is a chronic disorder appearing as depigmented patches on the skin. A 61-year-old male with Fitzpatrick skin phototype (SPT) IV presented to us initially with lichen planus pigmentosus, but who eventually developed vitiligo. The patient was treated with low dose oral isotretinoin for the LPP and topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment for both LPP and vitiligo with good clinical outcome. Only 1 case of segmental vitiligo and zosteriform LPP in a 22-year-old Indian lady has been previously reported in the English-language literature. An autoimmune etiology which cause melanocytorrhagy may be a plausible hypothesis for the co-existence of these 2 conditions.

This study investigates the application of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence tool, in providing information on skin toxicities associated with cancer treatments. The study utilized 40 questions, split between patient-oriented and oncologist-oriented, to assess the accuracy and comprehensiveness of ChatGPT's responses. Three oncodermatology specialists from a New York tertiary academic institution evaluated the responses, which showed high accuracy and comprehensiveness. However, the reading level of the responses was at the college level, potentially limiting their accessibility to patients. The study highlighted that while ChatGPT can serve as a valuable resource for clinicians, its use for patient education requires careful consideration due to the complex nature of the information provided. There were also some concerns about the need for evidence-based and up-to-date clinical recommendations. Despite these challenges, ChatGPT demonstrates potential as a supplementary tool for oncologists and dermatologists in managing and educating about cancer treatment-related skin toxicities.
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