Dermatology Researchers Document Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis Value: “High Precision Accuracy and Ease of Use”

Situation: Providing Precise, Portable, and Inexpensive Skin Analysis Tools for Dermatologists 

Dermatology is a field of medicine where direct observations of the skin guide diagnosis and management of disease. But without objective metrics to track skin changes, it can be difficult for physicians to precisely measure results and can also be difficult for patients to objectively assess changes in their own skin. 

“Skin analysis devices can potentially reduce these limitations and quantitatively assess skin characteristics, providing more consistent and objective measures of skin features that are less visible to the naked eye,” writes Dr. Steven R. Feldman, Professor of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, in a journal article. “Many validated skin analysis devices are on the market, but these can be costly and cumbersome. Although perhaps suitable for clinical trials, the cost and accessibility of such devices may limit their use in everyday clinical practice.”

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) on smartphones and similar portable devices, Dr. Feldman, and one of his co-authors, Dr. Sarah L. Taylor, Professor of Dermatology at Wake Forest School of Medicine, researched the viability of using such devices in clinical practice. 

They wanted to see whether AI/AR software on an iPad or similar portable device could perform as well in diagnosing skin conditions as dermatologists, and as well as expensive dedicated clinical imaging systems.

Solution: Perfect Corp.’s Real-Time AI Skin Analysis 

Drs. Feldman and Taylor conducted two studies comparing existing special-purpose devices with Perfect Corp.’s Real-Time AI Skin Analysis. Perfect Corp. is the leader in providing AI/AR solutions for the beauty industry. 

In the first study, led by Dr. Feldman, the team confirmed the effectiveness of Perfect Corp.’s AI Skin technology in evaluating skin characteristics in dermatology practice and medical spa settings. In a second study Dr. Taylor used Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis to provide metrics enabling patients receiving laser treatment for rosacea (redness of the skin) to quantifiably measure skin improvements.

The studies demonstrated that Perfect Corp.’s  state-of-the-art AI-powered skin analysis software is able to precisely analyze skin and identify up to 14 major skin concerns including wrinkles, redness, skin firmness, radiance and acne—across all skin types and tones. The findings show that the HIPAA-compliant skin analysis solution, could help transform dermatology and medical spa practices by providing a professional grade, accurate, fast, and cost-effective skin analysis solution.

 The ability of dermatologists to augment their practice with Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis is supported by several elements of the research findings, including that it performed as well—and sometimes better—than expensive single-purpose clinical devices, and that its findings were confirmed by dermatologists. Additionally, Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis generated its findings up to 20 times faster than dedicated clinical equipment.

Researchers confirm precision accuracy of Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis.

Benefits

The research by Drs. Feldman and Taylor identified several benefits dermatologists and their patients could realize from using Perfect Corp.’s Real-Time AI Skin Analysis technology, including:

• Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis provides 20 times faster results than clinical imaging systems.
• High correlation with physician skin assessments.
• Greater accuracy than $50,000 clinical imaging systems across every skin concern measured.
• 95% test/re-test reliability. Test/re-test shows proven consistency and reliability scan after scan.
• Easier to use in clinical practice than large, expensive dedicated devices.
• AI Skin Analysis provides metrics to track improvements for patients and clinicians.

Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis Provides 20 Times Faster Results Than Clinical Imaging Systems

The researchers found that Perfect Corp.’s AI Skin Analysis software was able to deliver results 20x faster than the expensive, dedicated clinical imaging system they tested against—while providing precise skin analysis. 

“One of the impressive things about the Perfect Corp. AI technology is that it basically is instantaneous,” Dr. Feldman says. “A clinician can simply use an iPad, iPhone or similar device, under whatever lighting conditions, and just click a button and get a score. This makes it much easier to incorporate into every-day practice than waiting for results from a dedicated desktop device with a custom camera and lighting.”

In addition to its industry-leading AI algorithms and extensive machine learning,  Perfect Corp.’s AI Skin Analysis is built using over 70,000 medical grade images, contributing to its extreme precision in identifying skin concerns. 

“Precision accuracy, ease of use, and the instantaneous skin scores make Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis a practical tool for dermatologists,” Dr. Taylor says. “It also saves office desk space. When not using you can just place the iPad in a drawer.” 

Dr. Steven Feldman, Professor of Dermatology at Wake Forest School of Medicine

High Correlation with Physician Skin Assessments 

The study confirmed that the skin assessments obtained using Perfect Corp.’s AI Skin software were highly correlated with assessments done by physicians, demonstrating the accuracy and precision of the software in recognizing skin concerns. 

“The high consistency between what dermatologists and Perfect Corp.’s AI found was impressive,” Dr. Feldman says. “This demonstrates the potential value of incorporating AI skin analysis into clinical practice.” 

Greater Accuracy than $50,000 Clinical Imaging Systems Across Every Skin Concern Measured

Researchers compared skin analysis findings of the AI Skin Analysis with findings of a $50,000 clinical imaging system with dedicated hardware and cameras. They found a high correlation between the two when compared to what dermatologists diagnosed from the same images.

Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis findings were about 19% more accurate than the expensive dedicated clinical system. “Across the 14 skin conditions we looked at, there was 56% clinician agreement for the findings of the dedicated hardware imaging system, compared to a 69% agreement with the Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis findings,” Dr. Feldman says. “In cases where the clinician and AI varied, it was sometimes the case that the AI was more accurate.”  

Test/Retest: Proven Consistency and Reliability Scan after Scan

The studies by Drs. Feldman and Taylor confirm that Perfect Corp.’s AI Skin technology provides excellent test-retest reliability. As part of the test/retest process, the study analyzed patients with a variety of skin tones, skin types, ages, and genders, as well as skin in various lighting conditions and backgrounds. The results were highly consistent and accurate, identifying the same key skin concerns with each scan, despite variations in lighting and background.

“The test/re-testing is important because you want to make sure that a device gives you the same score every time, and that you don’t see variability for the same image,” Dr. Feldman says. “We were impressed by the Perfect Corp. AI because we found very high test/retest reliability.”

“The accuracy and consistency across variations in lighting and backgrounds is important for a clinical setting, Dr. Taylor says. “We used the device under very different lighting conditions, without skin scores changing.”  

Dr. Sarah L. Taylor, Professor of Dermatology at Wake Forest School of Medicine 

Easier to Use in Clinical Practice than Large, Expensive Dedicated Devices

Perfect Corp. AI Skin Analysis, deployed on iPads, iPhones, or similar devices are easier to use in clinical settings than traditional dedicated hardware. 

Traditionally, imaging booths—large hardware devices that require special, costly equipment to operate—are used for skin analysis in clinical settings. 

The findings that Perfect Corp.’s AI Skin Analysis works as well—or better—than expensive dedicated devices, and that the AI works across a spectrum of lighting and backgrounds, make it a cost-effective alternative that can be easily integrated into a practice, including placing it into the hands of patients.

“The consistency across lighting means that you can use the Perfect Corp. device anywhere within your office,” Dr. Taylor says. “It doesn't need to have studio lighting or an expensive $50,000 device that a patient puts their head into so the lighting is the same. With the Perfect Corp. Skin Analysis you can have it on an iPad or similar device and use it wherever you like in the office, knowing it gives you consistent scores. This makes the device much more practical for a wider range of activities.”

AI Skin Analysis Metrics Track Improvements: “Patients Want to See They Are Achieving Results”

The skin scores generated by Perfect Corp.’s AI Skin Analysis provide metrics that can help clinicians—and their patients—measure progress in treating different skin conditions over time.

“The ability to show quantifiable metrics over time will be a big boost for patients because it can be difficult for them to notice when improvements occur over a period of weeks or longer,” Dr. Taylor says. “Using the Skin Analysis scores we can now say, here’s the progress you’ve made after two treatments.”

Dr. Taylor, who treats rosacea with laser treatments separated by two weeks or more, says patients often don’t notice that their skin redness is improving because it happens over a long period of time.

“Often I have patients that have had rosacea for so long that they think a treatment isn’t working,” Dr. Taylor says. “Without metrics, I have to use other parameters, such as asking them: ‘Do you feel like your face isn't as hot if you're out in the sun? Do you feel like you don't flush as much when you drink coffee?’ Now, with the ability to use AI Skin Analysis scores as a metric, they will be able to see that, yes, they actually are improving.”

“Patients are investing time and money when receiving dermatology treatments,” Dr. Feldman says. “Patients want to see they are achieving results, as do their clinicians. The AI skin scores provide the metrics we need to show that results are being achieved.”

Perfect Corp. Is a Great Company to Work With: “Exciting to Be On the Leading Edge of Technology”

Conducting research on Perfect Corp. AI technology has proven to be an enjoyable experience for Dr. Feldman, who says: “It is exciting to be on the leading edge of technology. I love science, I love discovery. This technology is providing us with objective metrics that we’ve never had before, and that is inherently exciting to be part of.”  

Dr. Feldman enjoys seeing AI research provide real-world benefits. “Perfect Corp. works on practical things that change people's lives,” Dr. Feldman says. “It's going to make a big impact on a lot of people. This is a great example of the benefits that can come from academic-industry collaborations.” 

About Perfect Corp. 

Perfect Corp. is the leading SaaS AI and AR beauty and fashion tech solutions provider, dedicated to transforming shopping experiences through empowering brands to embrace the digital-first world. 

By partnering with the largest names in the industry, Perfect Corp.’s suite of enterprise solutions delivers synergistic, technology-driven experiences that facilitate sustainable, ultra-personalized, and engaging shopping journeys, as well as equipping brands with next generation of consumer goods.

Perfect Corp. offers a complementary suite of mobile apps, including YouCam Makeup and YouCam Perfect, to provide a consumer platform to virtually try-on new products, perform skin diagnoses, edit photos, and share experiences with the YouCam Community. 

To learn more, please visit PerfectCorp.com.