title: The role of photography in dermatology research.
abstract: This article discusses the role of clinical photography in dermatology research and the value of healthcare professionals engaging with clinical photographers when planning and undertaking clinical photography. It is not always feasible to use a clinical photographer, or clinicians may not have access to such a service, but with advice, support and training from clinical photographers, clinicians can take good clinical photographs with easy-to-use low cost equipment. This article provides an exemplar where good quality clinical photographs have been obtained of congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) patients for dermatology research. The images have been taken by a dermatologist, with guidance from trained clinical photographers. The photographs played a valuable role in providing a visual, comparative and comprehensive description of this extremely rare multi-system disease.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Dermatologist, Welsh Institute of Dermatology, University Hospital of Wales , Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW. Ru.Katugampola@wales.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Ruwani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Katugampola
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lake
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003880:Dermatology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017092:Porphyria, Erythropoietic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult