"Pay 6,700 Won a Month for AI Acne Diagnosis and Prescriptions"... 'AI Care' That Requires No Hospital Visit Emerges

Selects Personalized Medication by Analyzing Facial Images and Medical History
Two Physicians to Review Prescriptions for the First 100 Patients in Advance

A pilot program in Utah will allow artificial intelligence (AI) to directly analyze patients' conditions and prescribe acne medication. There have been cases in which AI renewed prescriptions for medications patients were already taking, but this is the first time in the United States that a state government has authorized AI to assess a patient's condition and issue an "initial prescription" to begin a new treatment.

An AI-generated image to help readers understand the article. The app screen is identical to the "skin deterioration prediction" feature offered by the actual service. ChatGPT.

According to ABC News and announcements from the Utah state government on October 7 (local time), Nolla Health, an AI-based healthcare startup, will operate an AI-based acne prescription service in Utah.

On October 5, the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy (OAIP), under the Utah Department of Commerce, announced pilot programs involving Nolla Health and other healthcare AI companies. Under current law, only medical professionals with medical licenses may prescribe medication, but the pilot program makes an exception to allow AI to issue prescriptions under certain conditions.

Prescription ready 10 to 15 minutes after taking facial photos

Utah residents aged 18 and older can download the Nolla Derm app to use the service. Fees start at $4.99 per month (about 6,700 won).

After verifying their identity and completing a medical questionnaire, users take photos of their face from five angles and enter their medical history and personal information. The AI then analyzes the images for acne severity and skin condition, and provides an individualized treatment plan within about 10 to 15 minutes.

The Nolla Derm app captures the face from five angles to track acne location and severity, as well as changes in the skin, and predict the likelihood of symptoms worsening within the next 1-7 days. Nolla Health website

The AI selects an appropriate medication for the patient from a predetermined list of low-risk topical acne treatments, including tretinoin, clindamycin, and azelaic acid, and generates a prescription. However, the AI will not prescribe entirely independently from the outset.

In Phase 1, two Utah-licensed physicians will each review every prescription generated by the AI before it is issued to the first 100 patients. In Phase 2, the program will expand to up to 500 patients. The AI will issue prescriptions directly, and a physician will review all cases after the fact at least once a week.

In the final phase, physicians will conduct monthly spot checks of at least 10% of all prescriptions. Cases involving worsening symptoms or side effects will be reviewed separately. The program must receive written approval from the Utah OAIP before advancing to each phase.

"Reducing medical costs and wait times"... Medical community urges caution

Nolla Health said it chose acne treatment as the first area of application because "there is sufficient medical understanding of the condition, it is relatively low-risk, and clinical evidence has accumulated."

Nolla Health said it officially launched its personalized skincare service in more than 40 U.S. states last September and opened its U.S. headquarters in New York City. Nolla Health website

The company added that it developed the service because "the average wait for a medical appointment in Utah is 61 days, nearly twice the national average; 11 counties have no dermatologists at all; and medical visits can cost as much as $300 (about 402,000 won)." It said it hopes that "AI-based prescriptions and skin deterioration prediction services can reduce the risk of acne being left untreated while patients wait for care and developing into scars, while also narrowing gaps in access to healthcare."

Some in the medical community, however, say caution is needed about granting AI independent prescribing authority. John Whyte, chief executive officer (CEO) of the American Medical Association (AMA), said that while AI can be useful as a tool to assist healthcare professionals, it must meet the same standards of safety and accountability as human medical professionals to practice medicine independently.

The pilot program will run for one year, through October 5, 2027, and may be extended for up to two additional years at the discretion of the Utah state government. Nolla Health plans to expand its AI-based services beyond acne treatment to other areas of care.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.