What is the accuracy of the FirstDerm (Artificial Intelligence) AI app?

From the Guidelines

The FirstDerm AI app should not be relied upon as the sole diagnostic tool for skin conditions due to its limited accuracy and potential biases, and users should always consult a board-certified dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. The app's accuracy varies significantly depending on image quality, lighting conditions, and the specific skin condition, with studies suggesting it correctly identifies common skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis with approximately 70-80% accuracy 1. However, the app may struggle with distinguishing between similar-looking conditions, identifying rare skin disorders, or assessing conditions in people with darker skin tones due to training data limitations 1.

Limitations of the App

• The app's training data may not be representative of diverse skin tones, which can lead to biased results 1
• The app may not be able to distinguish between similar-looking conditions, which can lead to misdiagnosis 1
• The app's accuracy is highly dependent on image quality and lighting conditions, which can be difficult to control in a real-world setting 1

Importance of Professional Diagnosis

• A board-certified dermatologist can provide a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan based on a thorough examination and medical history 1
• Professional diagnosis can help identify rare skin disorders or conditions that may not be detectable by the app 1
• A dermatologist can also provide guidance on how to manage and prevent skin conditions, which is not possible with the app alone 1

Best Practices for Using the App

• The app should only be used as a preliminary assessment tool, and users should always consult a board-certified dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment 1
• Users should be aware of the app's limitations and potential biases, and should not rely solely on the app for diagnosis or treatment 1
• The app should be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools and medical professionals to ensure accurate and effective diagnosis and treatment 1

From the Research

Accuracy of FirstDerm AI App

• The accuracy of the FirstDerm AI app is not directly mentioned in the provided studies.
• However, studies have reported that artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology can achieve accuracy matching or exceeding dermatologists for the diagnosis of skin lesions from clinical and dermoscopic images 2.
• A systematic review of diagnostic accuracy studies found that algorithm-based smartphone apps, such as SkinVision, can achieve a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 78% for the detection of malignant or premalignant lesions 3.
• Another study discussed the potential benefits and limitations of AI in dermatology, including its ability to improve the accuracy of skin cancer detection 4.
• It is essential to note that the accuracy of AI apps can vary depending on the specific app, the quality of the images, and the population being tested.
• More research is needed to fully assess the accuracy and reliability of AI apps, such as FirstDerm, in real-world clinical settings 2, 3.