Patient Guide: Taking photographs for your dermatology appointment. - PowerPoint Presentation

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Patient Guide: Taking photographs for your dermatology appointment.

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April 2020

In preparation for your dermatology appointment you have been asked to take some photographs of the reason for your referral into the hospital.

Most patients have access to a camera on their mobile phone, or a simple digital camera.

Having a photograph can help us in understanding the problem, and may mean you do not need to come into the hospital for an appointment.

This leaflet gives you some guides on how to take photographs that will be helpful for us, it is very simple and most people will be able to take a photograph which helps our diagnosis.

Picture 1: Take an establishing image – this shows where on the body the issue is.

Picture 2: Closer image of the area of interest – if you have a ruler or tape measure it is helpful to have that in the image so that we can understand how big things are.

Picture 3: If you can take an even closer picture that can be very helpful, you may need to use the ‘Macro’ function on your phone or camera (this is often controlled using the ‘flower’ icon). However, if you cannot get a clear close photograph then Picture 1 and 2 will be sufficient to help us.

Three pictures: Wide, closer and close

Take more than one image

Taking multiple images can be very helpful.

You should try to keep the photograph parallel to the feature you are photographing.

You may need to adjust the angle to avoid reflections from lights or the flash.

You may also want to show the feature from the side, in particular to show whether it is raised.

These images of a wart help the doctor understand what the wart looks like on the patient’s finger.

Photographing

a rash or

a wide

spread

condition

can

be

difficult.

Try

and show the distribution pattern and surface details by taking a series of photographs at different zoom settings.Take a close up of the most affected areas rather than a close-up of every affected area. For rashes it is important to try and get as close as possible because the details are important – for example is it crusty, it weeping.If your phone or camera has a macro setting, try using this to take close up images. Try to make sure that the photograph is in focus and be careful about using the flash as this can sometimes reduce detail and cause reflections.

Rashes and wide spread skin conditions

It may sound obvious, but try to have a plain background to the image so that the picture is clear and does not cause distraction.

A plain sheet, plain painted wall (or door) or another plain surface will do. Try to avoid large shadows on the area you are photographing.If you are taking a photograph against a shiny surface, for example a glossy door, be careful that the flash does not cause glare.

.

Using a background

Always

use you flash

General room lighting is often not

sufficient

to

light

an

image

and

may result in a blurred photograph. Using the flash on your camera or phone can prevent this blurring and ensure that you take the best possible photograph.If you use your flash it may be better to zoom into the image, rather than moving the camera closer. This reduces glare from the flash which can make the photograph difficult to interpret.Using your flash

Things you should not do

Please don’t apply any filters to the photograph – either using applications on your phone (like Instagram) or on your computer (like photoshop).It can be hard to take the photograph yourself; if you can ask a family member or friend to help you it will make taking a good photograph much easier.

Finally

This video on YouTube shows you how to take a good photograph for your dermatologist. This was made for an American hospital, but the rules on taking a good photograph are the same all over the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggh7JhKkntc