The skin hyperpigmentation index (SHI) is a new objective method for measuring skin hyperpigmentation but needs to be validated. A study investigated the reliability and validity of the SHI by categorizing 15 enrolled raters into 3 groups (5 dermatologists, 5 non-dermatologist physicians, and 5 nonphysician clinicians). 

Each was given 5 pigmented mole lesions with mild-to-severe hyperpigmentation to rate and intra- and interrater reliability was determined. Raters took the photographs of the lesions and rated them utilizing the subjective Physician Global Assessment (PGA) score, which was then further assessed based on automatic computer measurement software using the online SHI tool (https://shi.skinimageanalysis.com). 

The following results were obtained-

• SHI demonstrated excellent reliability for all intra- and interrater assessments.
• The majority of the PGA assessments showed good intra- and interrater agreement.
• SHI showed excellent while PGA evaluations showed moderate-to-good Between-group reliability.
• Strong Concordance between the SHI and PGA assessments was observed across all groups of assessors. 

Thus SHI is a reliable instrument for measuring skin hyperpigmentation, which can be used by non-experienced clinicians.

Source- Bossart S, Cazzaniga S, Willenberg T, Ramelet AA, Heidemeyer K, Uthoff H, Baumgartner M, Hunger RE, Seyed Jafari SM. Reliability Assessment and Validation of the Skin Hyperpigmentation Index Compared to the Physician Global Assessment Score. Dermatology, 2021. doi: 10.1159/000520753