Pediatric Teledermatology: a Review

Only a small number of dermatologists are also certified in pediatric dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology, creating an access barrier that is amenable to teledermatology. More than 50% of pediatric dermatologists currently practice teledermatology, but there is a dearth of literature validating the collective experience. This article reviews teledermatology terminology and summarizes the recent literature supporting pediatric teledermatology’s diagnostic accuracy, efficacy, usability and cost-effectiveness. Diagnoses rendered using pediatric teledermatology share high concordance rates with in-person diagnoses. While most dermatologists prefer store and forward compared to real-time interactive teledermatology, a hybrid model may be advantageous for complex cases. Physician-to-physician teledermatology is ideal for pediatric inpatient and outpatient consultations, while direct-to-patient teledermatology may be more efficient for non-emergent pediatric outpatient visits. Eczema, acne, rashes and birthmarks lend themselves better to teledermatology than do pigmented lesions. This article provides summarizes the recent literature addressing the current state of pediatric teledermatology and reviews terminology, care models, pediatric best practices and benefits as well as challenges.