Digital imaging and teledermatology: educational and diagnostic applications of a portable digital imaging system for the trainee dermatologist.

Teledermatology is no longer a futuristic curiosity; several general practices across the UK are now preparing to be electronically linked to other medical services for the purposes of referral and telediagnosis. Further, digital imaging in dermatology has been the subject of considerable research in recent years, largely because of its application to telemedicine. Indeed in the UK, geographically isolated general practices in North Powys have already demonstrated the effective delivery of dermatological expertise through a video-conferencing link to a consultant dermatologist at Aberystwyth Hospital, thereby reducing the need for patients or the consultant to travel long distances.