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Skin Four photo checks
Skin photosFour checks before you send
Check the view, lighting, detail and delivery method before sending skin photos to your dermatology office.
October 16, 2026 3 sources
1. Show where, then show the detail
The American Academy of Dermatology1 recommends three views: the body location, the concern alongside unaffected skin, and a close-up. A ruler beside the area can indicate size; keep it from covering the skin you want examined.1
Check: Can the office tell which body area this is without guessing from a tightly cropped image?
2. Give color and texture a fair view
Use bright light facing the skin and a plain background. Turn camera filters off. Inspect each image for blur, glare and shadows, and check that its colors and texture match what you see.1
Check: Is a reflection hiding the detail? Retake that image before sending the set.
3. Prepare the skin and the notes
Before photography, the AAD advises removing makeup or relevant nail polish and avoiding activities that alter skin appearance, such as rubbing, picking or a hot shower. Bring notes about symptom onset, medicines, allergies and previous skin problems.2
Check: Write your main question before the appointment. A photograph cannot tell the clinician when the problem began or which products you have tried.
4. Confirm how to send and follow up
Ask the office which secure route to use for medical photos and how often to photograph the area.1 Confirm when to send them, how the clinician will contact you and whether a follow-up visit is needed.2
Check: “Do you have the pictures you need, and what happens next?” This page has no photo-upload function. Send pictures only through the method your care team specifies.
A clear photo still has limits
An online assessment may lead to an in-person examination. The AAD notes that suspicious spots may need an office visit, including testing or removal. Ask your dermatologist whether photographs are appropriate for your concern.3
These checks organize a photo set. They do not determine whether a skin change is harmless.
The Girl Playbook Volume 07
Skin, Head to Toe
Chapter 3’s “What to Say at the Appointment” helps you prepare your skin question and a history of products and medicines you have used. Keep those notes alongside the pictures your clinician requests.
Explore the skin bookGirl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and appointment preparation, not a diagnosis or a photograph assessment.
Check the sources
US dermatology patient guidance, reviewed October 16, 2026. These are preparation recommendations, not a diagnostic study.
- American Academy of DermatologyHow to take pictures of your skin for your dermatologist (2023) (opens in a new tab)↩ 1↩ 2↩ 3↩ 4
- American Academy of DermatologyTelemedicine: How to prepare for your appointment (2023) (opens in a new tab)↩ 1↩ 2
- American Academy of DermatologyWhat is telemedicine? (2023) (opens in a new tab)↩ 1
For general education. Follow your care team’s instructions. This page cannot assess a skin concern or replace an examination.