Researchers from Stanford University have trained a computer to detect skin cancer moles and lesions just as precise as a dermatologist would.

The study, published in Nature, has data suggesting that a cell phone app could be able to help patients diagnose skin cancer on their own. With skin cancer being one of the most common cancers in the United States, the team from Stanford developed this image recognition technology to bring dermatology expertise to areas where a dermatologist is not available.

Dermatologists will usually look at a mole and if they find abnormalities, they have the patient follow up with biopsies and tests. With this new automated dermatologist, patients may now be able to get a diagnosis much more quickly. 

Find out more on how the 'automated dermatologist' works: