Mobile health has made significant strides in the field of tele-dermatology (TD) following the developments post the COVID-19 pandemic. The application of telemedicine and mobile health to dermatology holds the potential to enhance the quality of healthcare for citizens and streamline workflows in the healthcare domain, hence this subject is of great importance. This research encompasses the last three years. A comprehensive overview examining the opportunities, perspectives, and encountered challenges regarding the integration of TD with mHealth has been provided. The narrative review methodology is based on (I) conducting research via PubMed and Scopus, and (II) conducting compliance assessment using the proposed parameters. The outcome of the research indicates rapid progress in the integration of TD with mobile health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This integration has facilitated the monitoring of dermatological issues and allowed for remote specialist visits, thereby reducing face-to-face interactions. Artificial intelligence and mobile applications have empowered citizens to take a more active role in their own healthcare, which is distinct from other imaging areas where information exchange is limited only to professionals. Opportunities that TD can offer in the field of mobile health include enhancing service quality, increasing the efficiency of healthcare processes, reducing costs, and providing more accessible care. This is applicable not only to conditions like acne, vitiligo, psoriasis, and skin cancers but also to other conditions. Integration with artificial intelligence and augmented reality (AR), along with the use of wearable sensors, are expected as future developments. However, the integration of TD with mobile health brings along issues and challenges related to regulation, ethics, cybersecurity, data privacy, and device management. These issues, along with the involvement of citizens in the process, should be addressed by scientists and policymakers.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current status and future potential of augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies in the field of dermatology. We conducted an extensive review of the existing literature, encompassing studies and case reports related to the utilization of AR/VR in dermatology. This analysis encompassed diverse applications, including medical education, diagnostics, and dermatologic surgery, to offer a holistic view of their current implementations. Despite the significant interest generated within the dermatological community, the integration of AR/VR technologies in dermatology has not advanced at the same pace as in surgery. Our review underscores the current applications of AR/VR, which encompass improving medical education through interactive simulations, enhancing diagnostic precision, and facilitating complex dermatologic surgical procedures. Additionally, we address the challenges and constraints associated with their practical implementation in clinical settings. Augmented and virtual reality technologies possess immense potential to transform the landscape of dermatology. While their adoption has been gradual, these technologies have showcased their ability to enhance medical education, diagnostics, and surgical interventions. The future holds promising prospects for further developments in AR/VR applications, positioning them as valuable assets for dermatologists and aspiring dermatologists alike. However, it is imperative to address issues related to accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and patient acceptance to foster their widespread integration into clinical practice.

Citation: Altunisik N, Gencoglu S, Turkmen D, Sener S. Assessing Public Awareness and Perception of Teledermatology Via Survey. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2024;14(1):e2024093. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1401a93 Accepted: December 7, 2023; Published: January 2024 Copyright: ©2024 Altunisik et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (BY-NC-4.0), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/, which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original authors and source are credited. Funding: This study was funded by Istanbul Teaching and Research Hospital for immunohistochemical studies. Competing interests: None. Authorship: All authors have contributed significantly to this publication. Corresponding author: Şule Gençoğlu, MD, Department of Dermatology, Gozde Academy Hospitals, Gozde Academy Hospital, Ankara Asfaltı 6. Km. No:219 (Makro Market Karşısı.) Malatya, Turkey. Phone: +9(0) 422 238 25 25 E-mail: sulegencoglu2309@gmail.com Introduction: Teledermatology represents an alternative medical approach allowing for the remote assessment of a patient's clinical information without the need for face-to-face consultations. Objective: This study aims to gauge the public's awareness and perception of teledermatology. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional observational design. Data collection was executed using an online survey. Sociodemographic attributes of all participants, such as age, gender, and occupation, were recorded. The survey, designed using Google Forms, comprised two sections: demographic information (5 questions) and queries related to teledermatology (10 questions). Questions and options in the survey were reviewed and revised by two dermatologists to eliminate potential misunderstandings, grammar, and other errors. Power analysis indicated a requirement of a minimum of 527 participants, given a 0.05 margin of error, 98% confidence level, and 0.50 response distribution. Results: A total of 873 individuals completed the survey— 47.7% were male and 52.3% were female. Students made up 48.1% of the participants, while 22.6% were civil servants. The Marmara Region had the highest participation rate at 47.7%. Remarkably, 41.9% of participants were unfamiliar with the term "teledermatology." However, 57.2% expressed a preference for consultations via teledermatology. Furthermore, 63.7% mentioned facing challenges when attempting to communicate with dermatologists for skin-related concerns. A notable 71.6% supported the formal implementation of teledermatology in our country. Conclusion: Our survey highlighted a limited awareness of teledermatology among participants, yet a majority showed a preference for teledermatology consultations. For a comprehensive understanding of public knowledge and perception towards teledermatology, more extensive, multicentric studies are necessary. Keywords : Teledermatology, public awareness, online survey, remote consultation, sociodemographic characteristics This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Citation: Gençoğlu S. Circulating Podocalyxin, Tumstatin/Col-IVα3 and Chitinase 1: New Culprits in Vitiligo Occurrence. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2024;14(1):e2024095. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1401a95 Accepted: December 26, 2023; Published: January 2024 Copyright: ©2024 Gençoğlu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (BY-NC-4.0), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/, which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original authors and source are credited. Funding: None. Competing interests: None. Corresponding author: Şule Gençoğlu, MD, Department of Dermatology, Gozde Academy Hospitals, Gozde Academy Hospital, Ankara Asfaltı 6. Km. No:219 (Makro Market Karşısı.) Malatya, Turkey. Phone: +9(0) 422 238 25 25 E-mail: sulegencoglu2309@gmail.com Introductionː The roles of anti-adhesive podocalyxin (PODXL), ant-angiogenetic tumstatin/Col-IVα3 and neuroinflammation and innate immunity modulator Chitinase 1 (CHIT-1) in the etiology of vitiligo have not been studied yet. Objectives: This study was planned to detect changes in serum PODXL, tumstatin/Col-IVα3 and CHIT1 levels in vitiligo patients. Methods: This case-controlled study was performed on a total of 50 patients, 25 with vitiligo and 25 healthy controls. Participants in the vitiligo and control groups were matched in pairs for age and sex. At least 8-10 hours of overnight fasting, venous blood samples were taken from the participants in both groups and serum levels of podocalyxin, tumstatin/Col-IVα3 and CHIT 1 levels were measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Results: In the classification made according to the vitiligo European Task Force evaluation criteria, 18 of 25 vitiligo patients were in the slowly progressive phase and 7 patients were in the active progressive phase. Serum podocalyxin levels increased significantly in the vitiligo group compared to the controls (7.03±2.09 ng/ml vs. 4.99±1.20 ng/ml, p<0.02). However, serum tumstatin levels in vitiligo patients showed a significantly lower course compared to controls (4.88±1.76 ng/ml vs. 6.05±2.19 ng/nl, p<0.03). Serum CHIT-1 levels of vitiligo patients (42.4±7.22 ng/ml) were found to be significantly higher than the serum levels of the control group (34.5±5.33 ng/ml) (p<0.01). Conclusion: Increased podocalyxin and CHIT1 levels versus decreased tumstatin levels are new biomarkers that support the role of anti-adhesive, anti-angiogenic and neuroinflammatory pathways in the formation of vitiligo. Keywords : vitiligo, inflammation, adhesion, angiogenesis, immunity This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Gençoğlu Ş, et al. Ann Dermatol. 2025 Dec;38:e14. https://doi.org/10.5021/ad.25.072