Derm Assist

2021: Launch of skin disease detection service by photo

Derm Assist Application

At the end of May 2021, Google launched the Derm Assist service, designed to determine skin diseases from photos based on artificial intelligence. Users only need to download three well-lit images of problematic skin, hair or nails at different angles. The tool then asks a series of questions about the user's skin type, whether the problem has long appeared, and about other symptoms that help the tool narrow opportunities.

Although users often turn to Google for information about skin, hair and nail problems (more than 10 billion search queries annually), they find relevant information only in 13% of cases. According to Dr. and Google Health manager Peggy Bui, the AI model addresses this problem - the app analyzes all the information provided and provides a list of possible options based on knowledge of 288 different dermatological conditions.

For each option, the app provides dermatologists-tested information and answers to frequently asked questions, as well as similar images from the Internet. Users can save their results, delete them, or donate to Google research. According to Bui, user data is securely stored and encrypted during transmission and storage. Google claims that it does not use data for targeted advertising.

According to Yuan Liu, technical project manager, it took three years of machine learning and product development research to create a dermatology application based on artificial intelligence. Ideally, the goal of the project is to provide users with reliable information that will help them make an informed decision about follow-up, because many patients wait too long to see a doctor due to dermatological disease.^[1]

To access the Derm Assist service, users need to fill in on the Google website.

Notes