Use of a machine learning-based smartphone app to detect the sunscreen features in a photograph and provide feature-based recommendation.

Abstract

Sunscreens have been used as photoprotective agents to prevent photoaging, photocarcinogenesis and photodermatoses.1 However, a recent study found that a significant proportion of patients are uneducated about proper sunscreen use, with about 40% of the patients unaware about the minimum sun protection factor (SPF) requirement set by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).2 Another study based on consumer reviews on Amazon.com reported that a significant proportion (40%) of the top-rated sunscreens did not adhere to the AAD criteria.3 In this study, we describe a machine learning (ML)-based consumer-friendly smartphone app which can provide interactive recommendations to the consumers based on the properties detected through the photograph of the sunscreen. Such app could help consumers make proper decision regarding the choice of sunscreens.