Tele-Dermatology with Board-Certified Dermatologists

By Jane Ehrhardt

In the rapidly evolving world of telehealth, a new app is changing the way patients and physicians approach skin cancer detection. CheckMySpot, a tele-dermatology app founded by spouses Michael Webb, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, and Elizabeth Webb, JD, offers a streamlined, asynchronous service that aims to bridge the gap between initial skin cancer concerns and in-person dermatology visits.

Michael Webb emphasized that the app is not a substitute for in-person care, but rather a tool to expedite necessary visits. “This is not virtual dermatology. This is a store-and-forward or asynchronous tele-dermatology,” he says, meaning there is no live interaction between patient and physician.

CheckMySpot does not provide treatment online. Instead, users receive a report within 24 hours from a board-certified dermatologist evaluating their submitted photos. If a suspicious lesion is identified, the app connects the patient either with their existing dermatologist or with one in the app’s growing preferred referral network.

The development took two years from conception to market launch with this latest year of soft launch in Alabama to gather user feedback to heighten the app’s efficacy. A key challenge was ensuring that the submitted photos met the necessary diagnostic standards. To address this, CheckMySpot requires users to view a short instructional video on how to take a high-quality image. If an image does not meet the necessary criteria, users are asked to resubmit the image alongside guidance on how to improve the photo.

To date, CheckMySpot has been downloaded nearly 1,400 times, with over 100 case submissions. Data from the app aligns with broader dermatological research. “Four out of five lesions that doctors see in a clinic visit are benign, and about one out of five are actually something that is suspicious for skin cancer,” Webb says. “And that pattern has held true in what we see in our service.”

For those who need further evaluation, CheckMySpot’s preferred referral network of board-certified dermatologists is designed to expedite access to care. “When patients don’t indicate who their dermatologist is, we’ll select one in their area who has agreed to see these patients or have them scheduled within a week,” Webb says.

Neither the clinics nor CheckMySpot receives any monetary gain for the referrals. “That’s actually illegal,” Webb says. “But what it does do is provides physicians with an incentive in that they receive a case that helps expedite someone in need of urgent care.”

The app also has the potential to reduce the overall cost burden of skin cancer detection and treatment in the country. “Over $75 billion a year is spent in the U.S. on evaluating skin spots. Roughly $24 billion is spent on skin cancer evaluation and treatments, and that number continues to rise in direct correlation with the increased incidence of all types of skin cancer,” Webb says. By keeping four out of five benign cases out of dermatology clinics and ensuring the malignant ones are seen sooner, CheckMySpot has the potential to lower healthcare costs both for individuals and insurers.

On a personal level, CheckMySpot users may discover cost savings as well. The app charges $70 per evaluation, an amount designed to align with the national average for copays. “We took an average copay amount, and this is a fee-for-service model. Currently, it is a non-covered service, but it is an eligible medical expense for health savings accounts,” Webb says.

While the cost may not be significantly lower than some insurance copays in Alabama, where the app is only currently available, the indirect savings—for such things as taking time off work, travel expenses, and lost wages—can add up, especially for rural patients, along with the at-home ease for elderly patients. “Your indirect savings is roughly $184,” Webb says, citing published research.

CheckMySpot’s mission extends beyond cost and convenience, though. It is also looks to increase awareness of early skin cancer detection. “The majority of people who are seeing spots are seeing them throughout the year, and they’re not aware the clock is ticking,” Webb says. “Every four-week delay to definitive treatment of a Stage 1 melanoma lowers survival by five percent. We’re looking to empower people to take charge.”

The app’s latest version during this past year of its soft launch, introduced new features to enhance the user experience. “You no longer have to draw a circle around the spot with an ink pen,” Webb says. “Instead you can drag and drop a circle overlay around the spot on your image. Another advancement is the inclusion of autofocus technology to improve image quality. Like when you remote deposit a check with a photo on your phone, you’ll get photo assist that will focus it properly.”

CheckMySpot represents a notable shift in how patients can take control of their dermatological health, particularly in rural areas where access to specialists is limited. “There’s no substitute for an in-person dermatology visit for a significant lesion,” Webb says. “The point of CheckMySpot is to expedite care and reduce unnecessary clinic visits, which could have a meaningful impact on both patient outcomes and overall healthcare costs. The real mission that we have is getting skin cancers to definitive treatment earlier to improve survival, surgical outcomes, and reduce costs—both directly to a patient and indirectly to the healthcare system at large.”