Skin cancer: smartphone diagnostic apps may offer false reassurance, warn dermatologists

Some smartphone apps designed to diagnose skin cancer may give patients false reassurance because the apps may not recognise rare or unusual cancers or may not pick up on all red flag symptoms, dermatologists have warned.

The number of apps for diagnosing skin cancer has grown hugely, but researchers say that they vary in quality and that some have not been tested properly to show that they work and are safe.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham’s College of Medical and Dental Sciences reviewed the available medical literature on skin cancer apps and presented their findings at the British Association of Dermatologists’ …