Artificial intelligence (AI) may serve as a potential tool to provide access to medical-based diagnosis in a novel way in this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virtual AI can help a great deal in dermatology by detecting skin pathology through photographs. They can be used to classify skin diseases, including cancer, actinic keratosis, and warts.

AI for Skin Cancer-

AI has been widely investigated for its potential to classify melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Stanford University in the year 2017 published a study known as a convolutional neural network which demonstrated the use of AI to classify skin lesions. The performance of AI was compared with the 21 board-certified dermatologists on biopsy-proven clinical images.  The study demonstrated the superior accuracy of the machine to identify and classify skin cancers compared to the work of board-certified dermatologists.

Another important study named Dermoscopic Image Classification, by Brinker and colleagues in the year 2019, proved the superiority of automated dermoscopic melanoma image classifications contrasting the work of board-certified dermatologists. There was 67.2% sensitivity and 62.2% specificity in classification of the lesions by the dermatologists while the trained convolutional neural network demonstrated 82.3% sensitivity and 77.9% specificity.

Utility of AI in Telehealth-

Developing Artificial intelligence algorithms that could ensure telehealth image accuracy, stratify risk, and track patient progress is the need of time. Further, an algorithm with the ability to detect, quantify, and monitor changes in dermatologic conditions using images uploaded by the patients, is also needed.

This will allow the development of a standardized quantification scale, helping physicians to virtually track the progression of visible skin pathologies.

Benefits of Conversational Agents-

Conversational Agent is AI software that communicates with users by interpreting their voice and responding via text, image, or voice. They help to manage the remote patients, allow clinicians to focus on other functions, and help in data collection.

Conclusion- AI is still discovering its practical implementation in the field of dermatology. In this challenging situation of COVID-19, AI might serve as an important asset by assisting with the diagnosis and treatment of dermatologic conditions, physician productivity, and patient monitoring.

Source-Ahuja G, Tahmazian S, Atoba S, Nelson K. Exploring the Utility of Artificial Intelligence During COVID-19 in Dermatology Practice. Cutis. 2021;108(02):71-72. doi:10.12788/cutis.0318