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Questions about using SkinIO?

SkinIO FAQ

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Q: What is SkinIO? A: SkinIO is a simple process that starts with having total body photography performed with our guided app at home. The photos are then processed and analyzed using SkinIO’s algorithms to look specifically for moles and lesions on your skin. These photos will be used by a doctor to perform a remote skin screening. The doctor will either recommend that no follow-up is required at this time or recommend that you schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. You will also have secure access to these photos at any time to use as you monitor your skin on your own.

Q: What is total body photography? A: Total body photography is a way of photographing a person to make sure that most or all of their skin is captured in a consistent and reproducible manner. It is a procedure recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to be effective in monitoring moles and skin lesions over time. SkinIO total body photography starts with a set of 13 photos of the front, back, left and right sides of your head, torso and legs. You will need to be unclothed to the extent you feel comfortable for the regions you wish to have photographed.

Q: I’m really not comfortable having my entire body photographed. Can I still use SkinIO? A: Yes! While total body photography provides the most comprehensive screening of your skin, your comfort is our top priority and it is ultimately up to you to decide which parts of your skin you would like photographed and reviewed.

Q: What does SkinIO do for me? A: Tracking changes in your skin is one of the most effective ways to catch skin cancer early. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 70-80% of melanomas appear as new spots on the skin while the other 20-30% arise from changes to existing moles. Normal skin exams are not able to track these changes on your skin because they can only evaluate you at a single point in time. With just your phone, SkinIO creates a digital skin health record for you that allows a doctor to look for suspicious moles AND better allows you to monitor your moles for changes over time.

Q: Does SkinIO tell me if something is skin cancer? A: No. SkinIO is not diagnostic; we are an imaging and monitoring system for your skin. If you notice anything of concern on your skin at any time, you should always contact your doctor immediately.

Q: What does SkinIO tell me? A: SkinIO gives you information about what’s important on your skin. Once you spend a few minutes taking your photos with SkinIO, your photos will be encrypted, securely processed, and sent to a doctor for a skin screening. You will get your results back in just a few days: either a message that you are all clear or a recommendation that you see a physician for in-person follow-up for any spots that SkinIO flags as areas of concern.

Q: How do I view my images? A: Your images can be viewed at any time after securely logging in through the SkinIO app on a phone or iPad or on a web browser at https://app.skinio.com (optimized for Chrome and Safari browsers).

Q: How do I share my images with a provider? A: Login to your account in a web browser at https://app.skinio.com. Click on the session you want to share. Then click “Summary.pdf” in the top right. This will download a file of your session that you can email or fax to your provider.

Q: You said that photos are processed. What does that mean? A: SkinIO uses technology to evaluate your photos and automatically identify and track the moles and other lesions on your skin. This allows for changes on your skin to be tracked over time, and will also give your doctor additional information about your skin as it is examined.

Q: Does SkinIO sell my photos and data? A: No. SkinIO does not sell or share any information with any third-party companies.

Q: Who can see my photos? A: Your photos will only be seen by the doctor and you. You can securely view your photos at any time through the SkinIO app or web portal. A small percentage of anonymized data is shared with the SkinIO data science team to verify that the output is consistent with our quality standards.

Q: Is my data safe in SkinIO? A: Yes. SkinIO data is always encrypted prior to being uploaded and can only be decrypted by the SkinIO servers. All data stored in SkinIO is encrypted and stored in a HIPAA-compliant cloud server.

Q: Is SkinIO AI? A: SkinIO uses machine learning and artificial intelligence, but not for diagnostic purposes. The results of the SkinIO algorithms assist, but do not replace, your doctor examining your skin.

Q: If I lose my phone, what happens to my data? A: No data is stored on the device. If you lose your phone, or have SkinIO installed, there is no risk of accidentally showing someone the photos, of having them show up in the photos app, or of having someone recover the images with the device.