Dermatologists Struggle in Diagnosing Darker Skins

Doctors do not perform as well diagnosing skin diseases when the patient has darker skin, according to an MIT study. “This is one of those situations where you need empirical evidence to help people figure out how you might want to change policies around dermatology education,” says Matt Groh. Credit: Jose-Luis Olivares, MIT; iStock

“Probably no doctor is intending to do worse on any type of person, but it might be the fact that you don’t have all the knowledge and the experience, and therefore on certain groups of people, you might do worse,” says Matt Groh PhD ’23, an assistant professor at theKellogg School of Management. “This is one of those situations where you need empirical evidence to help people figure out how you might want to change policies around dermatology education.

The research team recruited subjects for the study through Sermo, a social networking site for doctors. The total study group included 389 board-certified dermatologists, 116 dermatology residents, 459 general practitioners, and 154 other types of doctors. Both of these groups lost about four percentage points in accuracy when trying to diagnose skin conditions based on images of darker skin — a statistically significant drop. Dermatologists were also less likely to refer darker skin images of CTCL for biopsy, but more likely to refer them for biopsy for noncancerous skin conditions.

Both of these classifiers are equally accurate on light and dark skin. The researchers found that using either of these AI algorithms improved accuracy for both dermatologists and general practitioners .

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Inexperience Diagnosing Syphilis Adding to Higher RatesAfter years of not seeing any cases of syphilis, rising rates mean that clinicians are having to refresh their diagnostic and treatment skills for the sexually transmitted infection.
Source: Medscape - 🏆 386. / 55 Read more »

12 Best Vitamins for Hair Growth, According to DermatologistsIf you have hair loss, thinning, or just want thicker and longer hair, try these dermatologist-approved vitamins and supplements for hair growth.
Source: PreventionMag - 🏆 141. / 63 Read more »

How to Prevent and Treat Hidradenitis Suppurativa Scars, According to DermatologistsLearn how to prevent or get rid of hidradenitis suppurative scars with treatments like laser hair removal and corticosteroids, especially if you have dark skin and are prone to hyperpigmentation or keloids.
Source: SELFmagazine - 🏆 478. / 51 Read more »

The 12 Best Wrinkle Fillers for Plumper, More Youthful-Looking Skin, According to DermatologistsWrinkle fillers help decrease the appearance of fine lines by plumping skin without pain. Here, dermatologists recommend the best topical creams and serums.
Source: PreventionMag - 🏆 141. / 63 Read more »

How To Get Rid of Neck Wrinkles, According to DermatologistsPeptides help to stimulate collagen production and hydrate the skin, which will naturally plump things up and reduce the look of fine lines, says Dr. Lal, who recommends this treatment specifically formulated for delicate neck skin.
Source: iamwellandgood - 🏆 462. / 53 Read more »

The Best Hair Loss Treatments for Women, According to DermatologistsLosing hair is stressful but there are ways to stop the shedding. Here, dermatologists share the most common hair loss treatments for women.
Source: SELFmagazine - 🏆 478. / 51 Read more »