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Enterprise AI Analysis: Applications of Artificial Intelligence for High-Burden, Underserved Skin Diseases in Global Settings: a Review

ENTERPRISE AI ANALYSIS

Applications of Artificial Intelligence for High-Burden, Underserved Skin Diseases in Global Settings: a Review

Authored by Chloe Sales, Sarah J Coates. Accepted: 22 May 2025. The Author(s) 2025.

Revolutionizing Dermatology with AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds transformative potential for addressing critical gaps in dermatologic care, especially in low-resource and underserved global communities. By enhancing diagnosis, guiding treatment, empowering providers, and informing public health, AI can significantly improve patient outcomes and accessibility to specialized care.

0 Billion people lack basic dermatologic care
0 Max AI diagnostic accuracy for microscopic images
0 HCW perception of AI as educational tool

Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications

Select a topic to dive deeper, then explore the specific findings from the research, rebuilt as interactive, enterprise-focused modules.

Diagnosis
Treatment & Management
Provider Learning & Training
Predictive Modeling & Public Health

AI's primary strength in dermatology lies in its diagnostic capabilities, offering rapid and accurate identification of skin diseases from clinical and microscopic images.

99.81% Max accuracy in binary classification for mpox/cutaneous leishmaniasis/leprosy
Method Benefits Challenges
Binary Classification
  • Detects presence/absence of specific disease (e.g., melanoma vs. not melanoma)
  • High accuracy (70-99.81%) for well-represented diseases like mpox, leishmaniasis, leprosy
  • Underrepresentation of certain diseases in AI literature
  • Limited diversity in skin tones for training data
Multi-Class Classification
  • Screens for multiple distinct diseases simultaneously (e.g., basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma)
  • Approximates real-world clinical practice, particularly useful for skin NTDs (e.g., Buruli ulcer, scabies, yaws)
  • Lower accuracy for less common NTDs like leprosy and mycetoma
  • Reliance on PCR-confirmed cases to boost accuracy
Microscopic/Histopathological Image Analysis
  • Aids in gold-standard diagnosis for regions lacking dermatopathologists
  • High accuracy (64.63-99.96%) for detecting parasites (e.g., leishmania) and cancer
  • Costly digital pathology workstations
  • Accuracy varies with smear quality and parasitic load

AI tools can streamline disease management by guiding evidence-based treatment, enabling precision medicine, and monitoring patient responses.

37% Percentage of HCWs who changed treatment plans due to VisualDx

Precision Medicine for Leprosy & Mycetoma

AI models can generate a comprehensive view of a patient’s disease by analyzing medical/social histories, genetic background, and clinical assessments. This allows for refined management plans, predicting individual responses to medications, and minimizing adverse events. For mycetoma, AI algorithms predict post-operative recurrence and prioritize early surgical intervention, significantly reducing morbidity, medication costs, and treatment duration. This is particularly crucial for diseases with variable presentations and complex treatment outcomes.

AI-powered tools address disparities in dermatologic education, particularly for diverse skin tones and in remote settings.

Enterprise Process Flow

Lack of dermatologists in low-resource settings
PCPs lack formal dermatology training
AI tools (e.g., VisualDx, SkinNTDs app)
Generate differential diagnoses & info
Increase access to dermatologic education
Empower frontline HCWs
80% Over 80% of HCWs used VisualDx as an educational tool

AI enables sophisticated epidemiological modeling to inform public health interventions, forecast disease spread, and identify at-risk populations.

95.312% AI model accuracy for predicting mpox infection

AI for Disease Prevalence & Risk Factor Identification

AI models estimate disease prevalence and distribution, streamlining surveillance and resource allocation. Examples include estimating onchocerciasis prevalence in Côte d'Ivoire, predicting lymphatic filariasis risk in Samoa, and identifying environmental factors for mycetoma in Sudan. At the individual patient level, AI uses clinical signs to predict mpox infection and can identify leprosy occurrence months before clinical presentation by analyzing transcriptomic biomarkers. This proactive identification of risk factors informs public health interventions to stem widespread transmission.

Estimate Your AI ROI

Curious about the tangible benefits AI could bring to your enterprise? Use our interactive calculator to get a personalized estimate of potential cost savings and efficiency gains. Simply adjust the parameters to reflect your organization's context.

Estimated Annual Savings $0
Annual Hours Reclaimed 0

Your AI Implementation Roadmap

Embarking on an AI transformation requires a clear, strategic path. Our phased approach ensures a smooth, effective, and sustainable integration of AI into your operations. Each phase is designed to build on the last, ensuring measurable progress and tangible results.

Discovery & Strategy

In-depth assessment of current dermatologic care gaps, data infrastructure, and AI readiness. Define clear objectives and a tailored AI strategy for your specific low-resource setting.

Data Sourcing & Preparation

Ethical acquisition of diverse, biopsy-proven datasets. Cleaning, labeling, and preprocessing data to ensure accuracy and representativeness across various skin tones.

Model Development & Customization

Building or adapting AI models (e.g., diagnostic, predictive) to local contexts, needs, and technological capacities. Ensuring compatibility with existing devices and language localization.

Pilot & Validation

Deploying AI tools in a controlled pilot environment. Rigorous validation against real-world clinical data, with iterative feedback from frontline healthcare workers.

Integration & Scaling

Seamless integration of validated AI solutions into existing healthcare workflows. Developing training programs and support systems for widespread adoption across underserved communities.

Monitoring & Refinement

Continuous monitoring of AI model performance, patient outcomes, and user feedback. Iterative refinement and updates to ensure long-term effectiveness and adapt to evolving needs.

Ready to Transform Dermatologic Care?

The future of global dermatology is intelligent, accessible, and equitable. Partner with Own Your AI to leverage cutting-edge AI solutions for high-burden, underserved skin diseases. Let's build a healthier world together.

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