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Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become the newest consultant for, well, pretty much everything, including, you guessed it, beauty. Whether you\u2019re wondering which retinol to buy, how to build a skin-care routine or whether a mysterious rash could be eczema, AI tools can generate answers in seconds. But when it comes to your skin and overall health, how much trust should you actually place in those recommendations?<\/p>\n
Janine Hopkins, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Monroe, LA, and Southlake, TX, and founder of Hopkins Dermatology & Hopkins Institute of Skin Health & Wellness, has seen the trend firsthand among her patients. \u201cThey\u2019re no longer just Googling skin care. They\u2019re asking AI,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019ll come into my office and say, \u2018I asked ChatGPT what routine I should be using,\u2019 or \u2018AI told me this spot was probably eczema.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
While AI can be a helpful starting point, dermatologists caution that its recommendations are only as reliable as the information it receives and cannot replace an in-person evaluation. Ahead, experts weigh in on the strengths and limitations of using AI for your beauty and wellness routine, plus how much you can really trust it with your skin and health.<\/p>\n
When Est\u00e9e Lauder\u2019s Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant app debuted in 2023, it was designed to provide detailed makeup feedback for people who are visually impaired. Its AI scans a user\u2019s face and identifies issues such as smudged lipstick or uneven application.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow an AI is trained is really critical,\u201d Lamia Drew, Est\u00e9e Lauder\u2019s global director of inclusive technology and accessibility, explains. \u201cWhen creating VMA, we used thousands of images all across the Fitzpatrick scale to train the AI so that it could be capable of analyzing any face. That means accounting for diversity, skin tones and face shapes across the board. By the time we had a product to test, we had used another 50,000 images to help fine-tune the algorithm.\u201d<\/p>\n
AI-generated content can also help spread awareness. \u201cAI can be used positively to increase awareness in our field,\u201d says Tucson, AZ plastic surgeon Raman Mahabir, MD. \u201cWe used it to create a poem about DIEP flap breast reconstruction, and it did an outstanding job. We then used that AI-generated poem as part of our Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n
AI can also be a useful educational tool. \u201cIf someone wants to understand the difference between retinol and retinal, vitamin C and niacinamide or why sunscreen matters every day, AI can explain those concepts beautifully,\u201d says Dr. Hopkins. It may also help users build a basic skin-care routine or familiarize themselves with ingredients, procedures and treatment options before a dermatology appointment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually think this is a positive change,\u201d she says. \u201cPatients are becoming much more engaged in their skin health. They arrive asking better questions. The important thing is understanding where AI is helpful\u2014and where it reaches its limits.\u201d<\/p>\n
AI is much less reliable when it comes to diagnosing conditions. Dr. Hopkins cautions against confusing image recognition with medical expertise. \u201cIt\u2019s getting surprisingly good, but \u2018good\u2019 doesn\u2019t always mean \u2018right,\u2019\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
After all, a photograph tells only part of the story. \u201cWhen I evaluate a patient, I\u2019m thinking about far more than what I see,\u201d she explains. \u201cI\u2019m considering their age, medical history, medications, family history, skin type, how long the problem has been there, whether it\u2019s changing, whether it\u2019s painful or itchy and what the rest of their skin looks like. That\u2019s clinical judgment developed over decades of experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two conditions may appear nearly identical in a photo but require completely different treatment plans. AI may help users arrive at an appointment better informed, but it should not be relied on for a diagnosis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest risk is believing it with too much confidence,\u201d says Dr. Hopkins. \u201cAI is designed to sound certain, even when there isn\u2019t a clear answer.\u201d She also urges caution when AI ventures into prescription territory. \u201cPrescription medications require an understanding of the whole patient\u2014not just the skin,\u201d she says. \u201cAI simply doesn’t know enough about you to make those decisions safely.\u201d<\/p>\n
While AI may be able to explain how lasers work or compare injectable treatments, Dr. Hopkins says it should never be used for \u201cany urgent medical concern or suspicious changes in skin lesions.\u201d<\/p>\n
This includes:<\/p>\n
\u201cThose aren\u2019t questions for AI,\u201d says Dr. Hopkins. \u201cThose are questions for your dermatologist.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same caution applies to cosmetic procedures. AI can explain what neurotoxins, fillers or lasers can do, but it cannot determine whether someone is an appropriate candidate or which treatment may be safest for their skin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile AI filters may be driving an increase in demand for plastic surgery, they are also driving somewhat unrealistic expectations,\u201d says Dr. Mahabir. \u201cWe spend more time managing expectations now than before as a result.\u201d That additional time can ultimately change a patient\u2019s perspective. \u201cEven when they come in asking for a \u2018filter-like\u2019 result, once you educate them and really spend the time with them, they realize they don\u2019t really want to look fake, which is often the end result when you try to recreate an AI filter on a real person.\u201d<\/p>\n
How can you tell whether to trust an AI recommendation? \u201cOne of the easiest ways is to ask yourself whether it\u2019s teaching you or diagnosing you,\u201d says Dr. Hopkins. \u201cIf AI is helping you understand ingredients or explaining treatment options, that\u2019s incredibly valuable. If it\u2019s confidently telling you exactly what your diagnosis is from one photograph, I\u2019d encourage a healthy dose of skepticism.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rather than replacing dermatologists, Dr. Hopkins believes AI will become another tool in modern medicine. \u201cI don\u2019t see AI as something physicians should fear. I see it as another tool,\u201d she says. \u201cThroughout my career, I\u2019ve embraced technologies like high-resolution ultrasound, advanced laser systems and artificial intelligence because they help us care for patients better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, technology cannot replace clinical experience. \u201cThe future of medicine isn\u2019t AI replacing physicians,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s physicians who know how to use AI wisely delivering even better care.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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