AI in Dermatology: Analysing Skin Lesions From a Photo

Dermatology is uniquely suited to AI: the skin is the one organ you can photograph directly, without any imaging equipment. A clear phone photo of a lesion or rash is enough to get a structured AI dermatology read — a fast second opinion on morphology and what to consider next.

What a skin read covers

• Morphology — size, colour, border, symmetry, surface and distribution.
• Pattern recognition — features that raise or lower concern.
• Differential considerations — a structured list of what to weigh.
• Recommendations — including when in-person review or biopsy is the safe next step.

Photograph it well

Image quality drives everything in dermatology. Good light, sharp focus, fill the frame with the lesion, and include a sense of scale where you can. Avoid heavy compression — a screenshot of a forwarded image loses the detail a read depends on.

When to escalate

A structured read is a prompt, not a verdict. Anything with concerning features — change, irregularity, bleeding, or a lesion that simply doesn't fit — warrants in-person assessment and, where indicated, biopsy. AI helps you prioritise and document; it does not replace clinical examination or histology.