Smartphone Applications in Dermatology With Special Focus on AI: A European-Continent-Based Review.

Smartphone applications for dermatology are widely available across Europe, yet evidence on their characteristics, validation, and regulatory compliance remains limited. This review, conducted by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force, systematically searched app stores in 44 European countries, identifying 1746 apps in 2024, of which 420 met inclusion criteria. Specifically for AI-based skin cancer screening apps, the search was updated in June 2026. Apps were categorized by function, with metadata extracted on cost, target audience, AI presence, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance, and CE (Conformité Européenne) marking. Most apps (61%) were available on both Google Play and Apple App Store; 94% were free, and 60% targeted laypersons. Twelve percent reported AI functionality in 2024, 41% of these focused on skin cancer diagnosis. Only 2% reported CE marking and 10% GDPR compliance. Scientific validation was limited. Twenty percent of apps linked to peer-reviewed publications, 24 apps had clinical trial evaluations, 5 underwent randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 6 had real-world post-deployment studies. The 2026 search identified 38 AI-based skin cancer screening apps. Adherence to EADV recommendations was poor. Key principles including explainability, inclusivity, and data sharing were met by ≤ 37% of apps. Most dermatology apps target laypersons for teledermatology, education, and self-diagnosis. Major gaps exist in regulatory compliance, clinical evidence, and transparency, raising patient safety concerns. These shortcomings raise concerns about reliability and safety, underscoring the need for stronger quality assurance, real-world validation, and inclusion of diverse skin types, in line with EADV AI Task Force recommendations.

Abstract from PubMed