Integration of Antibody-Based and Electron-Based Diagnostics into Teledermatology for Skin Microbiome Monitoring

Abstract

Teledermatology has emerged as a vital technology for remotely delivering medical care and is expected to play an adjunctive role in diagnosing skin diseases in the near future. However, a limitation of teledermatology is the current inability of the medium to assess the changes in the human skin microbiome. Skin infections or microbiome dysbiosis, particularly at early stages, cannot be promptly detected using teledermatology services. Herein, antibody-based and electron-based diagnostics are introduced as complementary tools for teledermatology to examine the infections or microbiome dysbiosis. The lateral or circular flow immunoassay methods as rapid diagnostic tests for detecting microbial antigens or antibodies were presented for patients’ self-diagnosis. The electronic skin patch was underlined as an electron-based diagnostic device for monitoring the activities of electrogenic skin microbes. Data derived from antibody-based and electron-based diagnostics can be instantly transmitted to smartphones or computers for dermatologists to track patients’ skin conditions and therapy progress.