How to take photographs for online consultation

Snapping Your Way to Healthy Skin: A Guide to Taking Photos for Online Skin Consultations

Think of  your  photos  as  the  dermatologist's eyes. Detailed  visuals  help  them assess your skin accurately, diagnose effectively, and tailor treatment plans specifically for you.  So,  ditch the blurry selfies and follow these simple tips for picture-perfect success.

Hello, This is Dr. Ruchir Shah, a dermatologist, from neodermatologist.com. In today’s blog I will tell you about what to do and what not to do while taking photographs for online consultation.

We also have sample photographs of fungal infection images, tinea corporis images, alopecia images, pityriasis rosea images, vitiligo images, eczema skin images on our website. Please click on the link - hyperlink insertion to explore these images.

There are multiple factors that affect photography and are to be kept in mind while taking photographs for online consultation. I will discuss these factors as follows.

1 Resolution of camera

2 Avoid digital zoom in

3 Avoid filters/beautification

4 Flash

5 Background

6 Light

7 Angle

8 Distance

Different mobile devices are being used by people to take photographs.

The first and most important factor is the resolution of the camera. If you have a 1000*1000 camera resolution, then that literally means that there are 1000 horizontal and 1000 vertical pixels that collectively make it 10 lacs pixels that equals 1 megapixel. One should use a high resolution camera having at least 2 MP resolution or more to capture your skin disease clearly. Make sure that the photographic size is 1 Mb or more.

Avoid digital zoom in: most of the smartphones provide the digital zoom in feature. Digital zoom in should be avoided as it can reduce the pixels and eventually alter the camera resolution and it can compromise image quality. Your skin disease may not be clearly depicted in photos if you take photographs with digital zoom, it is advisable to go nearer and capture close-up shots of the affected area rather than zooming.

Honesty is the best policy: Avoid filters/beautification of the photographs: The dermatologist needs to see your skin as it truly is for accurate diagnosis and treatment. The features that beautify the photographs should be avoided as it may alter the actual image and eventually affects the diagnostic outcome. For example, if someone has acne breakouts on their face and taking photographs for online consultation using the features that beautify their image may actually make those acne disappear from the face as it gets beautified and eventually alter the diagnostic outcome.

Should you keep the flash on or off while taking the photographs?

Well, I would say that you should keep the flash off while taking the photographs for online consultation. As keeping the flash on may sometimes alter the image such as change in colour of a lesion and sometimes the lesion itself may fade due to excessive light over the lesion while taking photographs.

Background: background while taking the photographs should always be of single colour and preferably bright colours. Dark coloured or multi-coloured backgrounds should be avoided. It may alter the contrast of the actual image.

Light: Embrace natural light, Ditch the harsh flash and seek well-lit areas with diffused sunlight (morning or afternoon). Avoid direct sunlight, which can create harsh shadows. If natural light is scarce, use indirect artificial lighting from a lamp positioned slightly behind you while taking the photographs for online consultation and not on the top or in front of the camera as this can alter the actual image. Make sure that the affected area (face, legs, hands, forearms, abdomen, back, scalp, inner parts, buttocks) is evenly illuminated.

Angle: Camera should be placed at 90 degrees to the surface of the affected area. Angle of the camera should not be oblique as it may not capture your disease properly. So, make sure that the camera angle is at 90 degrees to the surface of the affected area in other words vertically placed.

Distance: distance is another important factor to focus on while taking photographs for online consultation. Close up as well as distance photographs should be taken at least from a 6 inch and 24 inch distance respectively. Close up photographs allow the examiner to have a clear and closer view of the lesion itself which helps to diagnose the disease whereas distance photograph includes context, capturing a wider shot showing the affected area in relation to its surrounding skin helps to understand the part of the body of which the photograph has been taken.

Last but not the least,

Clean the lens: A smudgy camera lens is a recipe for disaster. Ensure it's spotless for clear, crisp images.

Steady your hand: Camera shake can blur details. Use a tripod or lean against a stable surface for sharp photos.

By following these tips, you'll be snapping your way to a successful online skin consultation and getting the expert advice you need for healthy, happy skin!

If you're unsure about any aspect of taking photos, don't hesitate to reach out to us on neodermatologist.com for guidance. We will be happy to help you capture the best possible images for your consultation by providing you with sample photographs of fungal infection images, tinea corporis images, alopecia images, pityriasis rosea images, vitiligo images, eczema skin images.

A clear and informative photograph is a window to your skin’s good health. Open the window wide, take clear and informative photographs for successful online consultation.

Thank you