Clinical photography in dermatology using smartphones: An overview
Open accessAbstract
The smartphone is one of the biggest revolutions in the era of information technology. Its built in camera offers several advantages. Dermatologists, who handle a specialty that is inherently visual, are most benefited by this handy technology. Here in this article, we attempt to provide an overview of smartphone photography in clinical dermatology in order to help the dermatologist to get the best out of the available camera for clinical imaging and storage.
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This narrative overview describes smartphone use for clinical photography in dermatology, covering practical techniques, advantages, accessories, apps, and ethical/legal issues. It concludes smartphones are convenient and useful for documentation and teledermatology but generally inferior to dedicated cameras in image quality and require attention to consent, security, and consistency.
Key findings
- Smartphone photography offers ease of capture and sharing, teledermatology/e-consultation, video photomicroscopy, space/time savings, and patient-initiated photography; dermatology registrars reportedly take clinical photographs mainly for peer advice, treatment/disease monitoring, teaching/academic purposes, sharing with colleagues, and research/publication.
- Image quality caveats include that a 10-megapixel smartphone sensor produces much lower resolution than a 10-megapixel digital SLR sensor because of smaller sensor size; optical zoom is absent or inadequate, though some newer smartphones have 3×–10× optical zoom (e.g., Samsung Galaxy K zoom with 10×).
- Practical recommendations include obtaining written consent, using a distraction-free consistent background (plain light blue or green considered ideal), taking multiple images and at least two views (distance and close-up), using fixed lighting, generally using flash for general views but turning it off for close-ups/pigmented lesions, holding the phone firmly, using highest resolution, keeping the phone parallel to the area, and centering the area of interest.
- Accessories/apps and ethics: Handyscope for dermoscopy costs from approximately 35,000 INR/700 USD and is often compatible with only one smartphone make; apps mentioned include ClinPix, AppwoRx, PicSafeMedi, Camera+, Snapseed, Photoshop Express, and Magnifier (up to 3×); use an external memory card not less than 2 GB and transfer images at least weekly, and remove memory cards before repair or resale because deleted images can be retrieved and misuse is possible.
Methods
- Design: narrative overview/review article; no systematic review methodology is described.
- Data or sample: Not stated in the paper; no patient sample or primary data are reported, though clinical example figures and literature references are used.
- Main analysis: narrative synthesis of practical issues, tips, advantages/disadvantages, accessories/apps, and ethical/legal considerations; no formal statistical analysis is reported.
Limitations
- Paper-stated: smartphone cameras vary widely in resolution and lens quality; high megapixel count does not equate to dedicated-camera quality because of smaller sensor size; inconsistent lighting is a drawback, especially for depigmented lesions such as vitiligo, nevus depigmentosus, or hypopigmented patches in Hansen’s disease; not all smartphones offer optical zoom, white balance, or exposure settings; macro mode is not standard; add-on dermoscopy is costly and often limited to one smartphone make; external macro lenses are inferior to dedicated macro lenses for digital SLR cameras; privacy and security concerns exist, including possible misuse of images.
- Evident from the text: as a narrative overview without a systematic search or empirical comparison, the recommendations reflect author opinion/experience and selected examples; no quantitative diagnostic accuracy, patient outcomes, or comparative effectiveness data are reported.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 10 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Premisecitation
Recent studies have shown the effectiveness of mobile phones in teledermatology consultations using apps such as WhatsApp, Tango, and Facebook.
“Recent studies have shown the effectiveness of mobile phones in teledermatology consultations using such apps.[6]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [6] Kaliyadan, 2013, J Telemed Telecare
Not checked in the free run.
- Interpretationreasoning
A 10 megapixel sensor on an average smartphone camera produces an image with much lower resolution compared with a 10 megapixel sensor on a digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera.
“For example, a 10 megapixel sensor on an average smartphone camera produces an image, which has a much lower resolution compared with a 10 megapixel sensor on a digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
Clinical photography using smartphones does not measure up to standard digital cameras in terms of image quality.
“However, clinical photography using smartphones does not measure up to standard digital cameras in terms of image quality.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationnone given
Another major drawback of smartphone cameras is the absent or inadequate optical zoom.
“Another major drawback is the absent or inadequate optical zoom.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
The authors had developed a simple effective tool to use any smartphone camera as a cheap and effective alternative for mobile dermoscopy.
“The authors had developed a simple effective tool to use any smartphone camera as a cheap and effective alternative for mobile dermoscopy.[9]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [9] Kaliyadan, 2013, Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol
Not checked in the free run.
- Premisecitation
Dermoscopy devices attached to smartphones are especially useful in the context of e-dermoscopy or teledermoscopy, in which dermoscopic images can also be transmitted along with clinical images for tele consultations.
“These devices are especially useful in the context of e-dermoscopy or teledermoscopy, in which dermoscopic images can also be transmitted along with the clinical images for tele consultations.[8]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [8] Kroemer, 2011, Br J Dermatol
Not checked in the free run.
- Premisecitation
Clinicians receiving images for a second opinion are bound by the same ethical and legal regulations as those taking the images.
“The clinicians receiving images for a second opinion are bound by the same ethical and legal regulations as those taking the images.[411]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [411]
Not checked in the free run.
- Interpretationnone given
The wide variation in available camera resolution and lens quality is an issue when using smartphones for clinical photography.
“The wide variation in the available camera resolution and the lens quality is an issue, which needs to be kept in mind when using smartphones for clinical photography.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 19
- May combine two claims. 17
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
Findingnone givenTaking the camera too close to lesions tends to produce a spherical distortion, which might look odd, especially in facial photographs.
“Taking the camera too close to the lesions tends to produce a spherical distortion, which might look odd, especially in facial photographs [Figure 1].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Findingnone givenImage previews on the large screen of the mobile phone may be deceptive; the true quality of the image can only be appreciated after the image is transferred to a computer and viewed on the computer monitor.
“Image previews on the large screen of the mobile phone may be deceptive. The true quality of the image can only be appreciated after the image is transferred to a computer and viewed on the computer monitor [Figure 2].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingnone givenThe image with the mobile phone is distinctly less sharp than the dedicated camera image, though it conveys enough information about the nature of the lesions; the slight distortion of the facial shape is also noticeable with the mobile phone image.
“The image with the mobile phone is distinctly less sharp though it too conveys enough information about the nature of the lesions. The slight distortion of the facial shape is also noticeable with the mobile phone image”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingnone givenLack of consistent lighting is a drawback of smartphone photography, and this becomes a major issue while shooting images of depigmented lesions such as vitiligo, nevus depigmentosus, or a hypopigmented patch in Hansen's disease.
“Lack of consistent lighting is another drawback of smartphone photography. This becomes a major issue while shooting images of depigmented lesions such as vitiligo, nevus depigmentosus, or a hypopigmented patch in Hansen's disease [Figure 5]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationDermatology registrars take clinical photographs mainly for five reasons: to gain advice from peers/consultants; for treatment and disease monitoring; for teaching/academic purposes; to share with colleagues; and for research and publication.
“A study has shown that dermatology registrars take clinical photographs mainly for five reasons: (1) To gain advice from peers/consultants; (2) for treatment and disease monitoring purposes; (3) for teaching/academic purposes; (4) to share with colleagues; and (5) for research and publication.[4]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [4] Kunde, 2013, Australas J Dermatol
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenThe major advantage of clinical photography using smartphones is the ease of capturing and also transfer of images.
“The major advantage of clinical photography using smartphones is the ease of capturing and also transfer of images.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The smartphone cameras in general are now well equipped to shoot in any kind of lighting.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningWith the connectivity incorporated into smartphones, sharing clinical images and obtaining any number of opinions from any corner of the globe in a jiffy is now a reality.
“With the advantage of connectivity incorporated into the smartphones, sharing clinical images and obtaining any number of opinions from any corner of the globe in a jiffy is now a reality.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe image quality of a smartphone camera may come close to that of a digital camera in terms of megapixel count, but because the sensor size is physically small, the megapixel count cannot be equated to that of a digital camera.
“The image quality may come close to that of the digital camera in terms of megapixel count, but the sensor size being physically small, the megapixel count cannot be equated to that of a digital camera.”
- Also stated in: § Disadvantages and limitations of smartphone photography · plain
“As mentioned before, high resolution of a smartphone camera in terms of megapixels does not equate to that of a dedicated camera with the same megapixel range. This is because of the smaller sensor size of the smartphone camera”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Also stated in: § Disadvantages and limitations of smartphone photography · plain
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationUsing a flash (if available) at all times tends to reduce image blur.
“In general it is better to use a flash (if available) at all times as it tends reduce image blur[6]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [6] Kaliyadan, 2013, J Telemed Telecare
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationThere is a high level of smartphone ownership and usage among medical students and junior doctors.
“There is a high level of smartphone ownership and usage among medical students and junior doctors too.[1]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [1] Payne, 2012, BMC Med Inform Decis Mak
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenBigger view finder and grids make it easy to frame and freeze the desired area of interest.
“Bigger view finder and grids (that are also available on the smart phone screen) make it easy to frame and freeze the desired area of interest”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenMacro mode is not a standard feature in all smartphone cameras, which is a limitation when taking close-up images; even in smartphone cameras having a dedicated macro mode, the quality does not match up to that of the macro mode of dedicated cameras.
“Macro mode is not a standard feature in all the smartphone cameras, which is a limitation when taking close-up images. Even in smartphone cameras having a dedicated macro mode, the quality does not match up to that of the macro mode of dedicated cameras.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThere is always a possibility (although remote) for misuse of images, which is a violation of trust and privacy of the patient.
“There is always a possibility (although remote) for misuse of images, which is a violation of trust and privacy of the patient.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenFocusing an external light on the lesion can improve the quality of macro images taken with a smartphone with the flash off.
“Focusing an external light on the lesion can improve the quality of macro images taken with a smart phone with the flash off.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationObtaining valid informed consent from patients or informants and maintaining adequate medical records and providing secure systems for data storage will help clinicians ensure patient confidentiality and maintain a sound patient-clinician relationship, and it protects practitioners from possible disciplinary and medicolegal litigations.
“Obtaining valid informed consent from patients or informants and also maintaining adequate medical records and providing secure systems for data storage will help the clinicians to ensure patient confidentiality and maintain a sound patient-clinician relationship. It also protects practitioners from possible disciplinary and medicolegal litigations.[4]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [4] Kunde, 2013, Australas J Dermatol
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenAttachable external macro lenses are available for smartphones and can be theoretically useful in taking close-up views of skin lesions, but the quality of the image is nothing near that of dedicated macro lenses for digital SLR cameras.
“Attachable external macro lenses are also available for smartphones and these can be theoretically useful in taking close-up views of skin lesions. However, the quality of the image is nothing near that of dedicated macro lenses for digital SLR cameras and we would not recommend the same for routine clinical photography using smartphones.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationThe misuse of clinical photography has become an area of growing concern among medical indemnity agencies.
“The misuse of clinical photography has become an area of growing concern among medical indemnity agencies.[10]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [10] Mahar, 2013, Med J Aust
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenAdditional flexibility in terms of optical zoom, white balance, and exposure settings are not available in all smartphones.
“Additional flexibility in terms of optical zoom, white balance, and exposure settings are not available in all smartphones.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenAt present, add-on LED lights are available, which can increase the capability of the phone camera in low light situations.
“At present, even add-on LED lights are available, which can increase the capability of the phone camera in low light situations.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenMobile phones are particularly useful for patient-initiated teledermatology for follow up of chronic skin conditions, although they will probably never be a good enough replacement for a physical review.
“Mobile phones are particularly useful for patient-initiated teledermatology for follow up of chronic skin conditions, although it will probably never be a good enough replacement for a physical review.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Some conditions on the body may not be visible to the patient; or the patient may not wish to be bared in the consulting room; or they may be evanescent or short-lived, occurring at odd times.
- Rests on an assumption: Patients will be willing to share their images with the clinician, saving time and resources on travel and other logistics.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningSmartphones may have various other apps installed, which at the time of installation take the owner's permission to even access images in the phone, raising phone security and privacy concerns.
“The smartphones being a pocket computer may have various other apps installed, which at the time of installation take the owner's permission to even access images in the phone, raising phone security and privacy concerns.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenThe main drawback of the Handyscope device is its relatively high cost (starting from approximately 35,000 INR/700 USD), and most of these devices are compatible with only one particular make of smartphones, limiting their utility.
“The main drawback of this device in the context of its use in developing nations is the relatively high cost (starting from approximately 35,000INR/700USD). Moreover, most of these devices are compatible with only one particular make of smartphones, limiting their utility.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenThe digital photography equipment can be heavy and cumbersome for a person on the move, which to a certain extent can be overcome by the camera embedded in the smartphone.
“The digital photography equipment can be heavy and cumbersome for a person on the move, which to a certain extent can be overcome by the camera embedded in the smartphone.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationThe smartphone scores over the compact camera in clinical photography for video photomicroscopy, as it is easy to take real-time videos and transmit them using Internet connectivity.
“Video photomicroscopy: This is one feature where the smartphone actually scores over the compact camera in clinical photography. It is easy to take real-time videos and transmit them using Internet connectivity.[7]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [7] Górgolas, 2014, N Engl J Med
Not checked in the free run.
The paper relies on this without support.
Dermatology is a visual specialty and clinical imaging is an essential part of follow-up and documentation.
“Dermatology is a visual specialty, and clinical imaging is now considered to be an essential part of follow up and documentation.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Virtually all dermatologists own a smartphone and many routinely use them for clinical photography.
“Virtually all dermatologists own a smartphone and many of them routinely use them for clinical photography.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The smartphone cameras in general are now well equipped to shoot in any kind of lighting.
“The smartphone cameras in general are now well equipped to shoot in any kind of lighting.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Some conditions on the body may not be visible to the patient; or the patient may not wish to be bared in the consulting room; or they may be evanescent or short-lived, occurring at odd times.
“Some conditions on the body may not be visible to the patient; or he/she may not wish to be bared in the consulting room; or they may be evanescent or shortlived, occurring at odd times.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Patients will be willing to share their images with the clinician, saving time and resources on travel and other logistics.
“Patients will be willing to share them with the clinician, saving time and resources on travel and other logistics.”
The paper relies on this without support.
In most smartphones, images are either set by the user or the machine to be stored in the memory card.
“In most of the smartphones, the images are either set by the user or the machine to be stored in the memory card.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Even erasure is not necessarily final as there are advanced softwares that can retrieve images from memory cards even if they are deleted.
“Even erasure is not necessarily final as there are advanced softwares that can retrieve images from memory cards even if they are deleted.”
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
No standards for taking photographs exist.
“Today, it is surprising to note that no standards for taking photographs exist [62,64].”
From Use of Smartphones for Early Detection of Melanoma: Systematic Review (2018) · cites this paper as [62]
The section ‘Clinical photography using smartphones: Is it different from normal clinical photography?’ says that conventional photography rules apply and gives practical recommendations. It does not say whether formal standards for taking photographs exist; searches for standards and guidelines found no passage settling that point. Page numbers were unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Magnifier app has two stated maximum magnifications
MinorThe text says the Magnifier app magnifies up to 3×, while the Figure 7 caption says it allows up to 3×-4×.
“This app allows images to be magnified upto three times (3×) allowing the clinician to visualize the subject in greater detail.”
“Figure: Figure 7 Screenshot of the Magnifier app: Allow up to 3×-4× magnification and image capture”
The citation lists haven’t been fetched yet
References 12 · Cited by 61
- Authors
- Ashique, K., Kaliyadan, F., & Aurangabadkar, S.
- Affiliations
- King Faisal University (SA)
- ORCID
- Kaliyadan, Feroze
- Venue
- Indian Dermatology Online Journal
- Published
- 2015
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 158
- ISSN
- 2229-5178 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4439742
- OpenAlex
- W1836346712
- Cited by
- 61
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6
- FWCI
- 4.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-sa
- Locations
- Indian Dermatology Online Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Digital Imaging in Medicine
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Ophthalmology and Visual Health Research
- Keywords
- smartphone photography, medical photography, dermatology, smartphone camera, clinical imaging, image storage, dermatological diagnosis
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-10.
Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
