Company: Skin Analytics
CEO: Neil Daly
Website: https://skin-analytics.com
About Skin Analytics
Skin Analytics is a British medical technology company founded in 2012 by Neil Daly with a clear and urgent purpose to help more people survive cancer. From the beginning, the company has focused on using cutting-edge technology to support early detection and diagnosis of skin cancer, aiming to improve outcomes through faster and more accessible care. This vision led to the creation of DERM, an artificial intelligence-powered dermatology tool developed to help tackle the growing burden on healthcare systems.
The company began delivering teledermatology services in 2015. Early on, Skin Analytics had to address significant challenges. These included gaining clinical trust in AI-based diagnostics, navigating complex medical regulatory pathways, and integrating into existing healthcare systems such as the UK National Health Service. Proving clinical accuracy and safety was essential, and the company invested heavily in rigorous trials and post-market studies to build the necessary evidence.
Since 2020, Skin Analytics has seen its AI tool DERM deployed in 26 NHS sites across the UK. More than 150,000 NHS patients have now used the service, and over 14,000 skin cancers have been detected with its help. This has had a major impact on early diagnosis and treatment, giving many patients the chance for better outcomes and, in many cases, saving lives.
DERM is the only UKCA Class IIa certified AI dermatology medical device in the country and recently achieved EU MDR Class III approval. This certification not only confirms the safety and effectiveness of the tool but also opens the door for wider use across Europe. With growing pressure on dermatology services and rising skin cancer rates, solutions like DERM are becoming increasingly vital.
The technology works by assessing images of skin lesions, using AI to determine the likelihood of skin cancer. In clinical settings, DERM has demonstrated remarkable accuracy, identifying 97 percent of cancers and over three out of four benign lesions correctly. It has a Negative Predictive Value of 99.8 percent, which compares favourably to face-to-face dermatologist evaluations, which have a rate of 98.9 percent. This level of performance has allowed NHS settings using DERM to safely discharge up to 40 percent of urgent suspected skin cancer referrals without the need for in-person appointments.
One of the most significant benefits of DERM is its ability to reduce the strain on dermatology services. Sites using DERM have reported reductions of 60 to 95 percent in face-to-face dermatologist appointments for patients referred with suspected skin cancer. This frees up clinical capacity, allowing dermatologists to focus on the patients most in need of urgent attention.
Skin Analytics has established itself as a leader in applied medical AI, not only delivering on clinical performance but also demonstrating how thoughtfully developed technology can transform patient pathways. By working within the framework of regulated healthcare and focusing on measurable impact, the company has helped shape how AI can be integrated into public health systems in a safe, reliable, and meaningful way.
