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New Device to Detect Skin Cancer From A Picture?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the snapshot-physicals dept.

JonathanGCohen writes "News.com is reporting on a new machine that can tell you all about your skin's unique features (excessive oil, UV damage, etc.) using an image scan and software to analyze it. Its inventors plan on developing a version that can even detect skin cancer." From the article: "Apart from numbers, the technology, called Clarity Pro, can depict the depth and severity of wrinkles in a 3D chart, show the extent of bacteria-filled pores in a graph, or represent UV damage in purple dots scattered about your face in a white-light image. It can also calculate how long a person can be exposed to the sun, in minutes or hours a day, before incurring more UV damage."

4 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. What about fixing your skin? by gasmonso · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've noticed a trend in medical devices that clinics are marketing now for "peace of mind". There are scans for your heart, lungs, and now your skin. While I find the devices neat, they really don't fix anything. They seem just like another way for clinics to seperate money from you.

    http://religiousfreaks.com/
  2. Not sure about the pores, but... by Gruneun · · Score: 2, Interesting

    UV damage pictures have been around for a long time. I remember watching a short piece on the news at least a decade ago.

    Some UV damage examples

  3. Meh... by Gruneun · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Or, they could use it to find out you're in spectacular health and offer you a lower premium. Everyone pays an inflated rate and you can present your privately-obtained biometrics to bargain for a better rate.

    I think everyone should have decent healthcare, bad genetics or not, but why ignore that some people spent every summer baking on the beach or a portion of the population is at higher risk for heart disease because they eat tons of fast food and smoke?

    It's not going to be the popular opinion around here, but why should the insurance companies get shafted on covering your self-inflicted damage?

    1. Re:Meh... by Politburo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Or, they could use it to find out you're in spectacular health and offer you a lower premium.

      Hahahaha.. right.

      It's not going to be the popular opinion around here, but why should the insurance companies get shafted on covering your self-inflicted damage?

      They don't.. that's the whole point of group insurance. People like me, who pay for insurance but almost never use it, subsidize the people who aren't as healthy. Try getting an individual comprehensive (not catastrophic) insurance plan.