title: Self-acquired patient images: the promises and the pitfalls.
abstract: Self-acquired patient images, also known as selfies, are increasingly utilized in the practice of dermatology; however, research on their utility is somewhat limited. While the implementation of selfies has yet to be universally accepted, their role in triage appears to be especially useful. The potential for reducing office wait times, expediting referrals, and providing dermatologic services to patients with limited access to care is promising. In addition, as technology advances, the number of smartphone applications related to dermatology that are available to the general public has risen exponentially. With appropriate standardization, regulation, and confidentiality measures, these tools can be feasible adjuncts in clinical practice, dermatologic surgery, and teledermatology. Selfies likely will have a large role in dermatologic practice and delivery in the future.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida. USA.
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Damanpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. rajiv.nijhawan@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Rajiv I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Nijhawan
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality / Q000592:standards*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: selfie; smartphone; teledermatology; teledermoscopy