GNN-Skin Triage - Spot Early, Live Fully

A skin spot that “doesn’t hurt” is exactly the kind of problem people put off, and that delay is what we’re trying to interrupt. We sit down with Barry Frank, founder of Skin Triage, to unpack a platform built around early awareness and faster access to professional guidance when something on your skin feels off. Skin Triage is still in its onboarding stage and is currently inviting qualified, licensed providers to participate, but the mission is clear: make the first step easier, safer, and more realistic for everyday people.

We walk through what Skin Triage is and what it is not. It’s a technology and engagement platform, not a medical practice, and it does not diagnose or “screen.” Instead, it supports an asynchronous assessment process: you upload multiple photos of a spot through a secure, HIPAA-compliant portal, answer a short intake questionnaire, and a licensed provider responds with an assessment and recommended next steps. Those next steps might include booking an in-person visit, discussing changes over time, or taking the results to your own healthcare professional.

We also talk candidly about the tradeoffs in modern teledermatology. Barry explains why AI can be helpful in many areas but shouldn’t be the sole basis for medical decisions, and why privacy and compliance matter so much when personal health information is involved. Finally, we get into access: why dermatology visits can be costly, how the $9.99 model discourages misuse while staying affordable, and how referrals to local nonprofits can help people who need extra support.

If you’ve been watching a mole, lesion, or strange patch of skin and hoping it just goes away, take this as your nudge to act. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who keeps postponing their check, and leave a review with the question you want us to tackle next.

Skin Triage
Barry Frank
bfrank@skintriage.com
skintriage.org

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Welcome And Skin Triage Mission

Cabo Jim 0:30

Welcome, good neighbors. Today we are introducing a new platform with a mission centered on early awareness and easier access to professional guidance about concerning skin. We got skin spots, right? So it's called Skin Triage. And before we begin, it's important to explain that the platform is still in its onboarding stage. It's not yet providing services to consumers and it's currently inviting qualified licensed providers to participate. Joining me today is Barry Frank, founder of Skin Triage. Barry, welcome. Well, thank you. Appreciate being here. Yeah, I'm excited to share with everybody what you've been working on. It's what it's been years, right? Literally years, right?

Barry Frank 1:12

Well, yeah, it actually did start many, many years ago, um, kind of primitively. Um, you know, before we had uh um all of the uh equipment and uh ways of um contacting people and uh sending and receiving messages. Um but now we have all of that and we are able to automate just about everything. Um as we go along, I'll explain um the difference between how we do things and the importance of

What The Platform Is Not

Barry Frank 1:48

it.

Cabo Jim 1:48

Yeah, so so let's begin with the basics. What what is skin triage and who is it designed to help, and why did you create it in the first place?

Barry Frank 1:57

Well, first, um uh I need to clarify that skin triage um uh what it is and what it's not. Um it's we we we are a technology and engagement platform. Um it's not a medical practice, and uh skin triage itself does not practice medicine. Okay, we are a technology platform. The platform um is being built to connect people who have a concern about a spot uh you know on their on their skin anywhere uh with an independent license provider who can review the information asynchronously. Um and um the the concept is very straightforward. Um the consumer uploads a photograph, um, and then uh there's an intake they they uh intake information uh through a secured um HIPAA compliant um portal. And uh the participating provider in in that area um does a submission, not um anything other than something that is not a diagnosis. They are doing an assessment. Um and uh uh the recommended the next steps. The next steps can be for the person to call and have an interview with the dermatologist, they can take the result to their own healthcare professional, uh they can um uh be sent by us to a local um place for help uh such as United Way and some of the other 501c3s that um can help people of uh different

Why People Put Off Checks

Barry Frank 3:58

means.

Cabo Jim 4:00

So the goal the goal is not to replace the dermatologist or any other qualified provider, it's basically to help take some informed, get get somebody informed, take that first step um with something that may be concerning to them.

Barry Frank 4:14

So most most definitely there there's um um probably uh there's five to six million people um that um are are uh detected with um some type of a uh skin problem, um uh an issue. Um actually um skin cancer of some type. Those are people that have dermatologists, those are people who can afford um to go to different places uh to to have it looked at. These are people who have insurance. Um there are millions of people out there that um even even some people with the money and the means to do it don't do it because the spot on their skin that they're concerned about doesn't hurt, um, maybe is in a place where you can't even see it, um, the bottom of your feet, their their foot, on their back, on their head, where they they don't see it on a regular basis. And um they ignore it, and ignoring it is what we're trying to get them um uh not to do. We need them to look at the and um uh we we are promoting early awareness, that's what this is all about, and they're able to instead of getting in uh calling up, making a um an appointment with a dermatologist, um, it used to be where you had to go through your primary provider, uh, and then they would refer you to a derm. And by the time you got in the office to find out if a spot that you were concerned about is even anything to worry about, it could cost you two $200 to uh thousand dollars by the time you get in there. And then there's the process, and there's a lot of people that won't have it checked because they're worried that even if they can afford the couple hundred dollars for the um uh what what would be they can't even call screening because insurance won't pay for screening at a dermatology office. It is a an office visit. Um so that's what we actually started this for years ago, was because there is no um screening such as thermometers or or blood pressure cuffs, um, which indicate that there's something wrong, but you go to your doctor to find out. But you know that if you're 200 over 100, um you're gonna explode. We just don't know when or exactly what is going to explode. So um we found a way where people could, in the privacy of their own home, take a uh an image um and they can take three different shots of it from an angle so you can see if it's raised or uh distorted, um, and send it to the dermatologist directly. And um that that way we can get more people into dermatologists or have it taken care of and lessen the problem uh and the issues with it getting worse at a um uh as time goes on. Most people wait until it's too late.

Cabo Jim 7:45

And it's it's all about that early awareness, you know. Um, you know, there are concerns, and the earlier you catch it, the better you have a chance of doing something about it. But like you said, a lot of people don't know, they don't think about it until it actually becomes a problem. And that's what just what we're trying to avoid here, right?

Barry Frank 8:02

Correct. Yes, that's

HIPAA Compliance And No Diagnosis

Barry Frank 8:04

right. Um we we um do do not uh direct judgment, um, we don't make any medical decisions uh and and diagnose the person. I keep saying that because uh federal um uh we we we didn't necessarily um know this until we got into our our web app that we have out there. And um we have a um council that um has um uh looked and made the changes that we need on our web app to be federally compliant. There are three federal agencies that um uh check on um scammers and people who um are are not medically um uh licensed in and profession um that are are doing things. And if you if we if we were to make it sound like we are doing this, that we are screening, um we are going to be uh out of compliance. So now we have we have uh had that taken care of. So totally compliant.

Why AI Is Not Enough

Cabo Jim 9:19

And and there are other ways of of doing this that are out there currently, and a lot of them kind of I want to say lean towards, but a lot of them are using AI, right?

Barry Frank 9:29

Well, yes. Um, and um uh AI is fantastic for a lot of things, but you never want to use AI for a medical decision um or a legal. Um AI will tell you that do not depend on it. Um, as a matter of fact, um statistics are that on medical judgment, um, they are 24% of the time wrong. Um, and it's really important that um some some of the other um there are apps out there that you can do this um that um dermatologists have set up. Uh I do not know if they're compliant or not. Well, I'm gonna have to guess that they are, um, which just means that everything is secured because too many, you know, um regular emails and conversations um are not um uh are are uh that aren't restricted, that aren't um uh private, uh tends to put you out of compliance. Um so I'm gonna assume that they are. However, what they are doing is they're soliciting patient uh uh for patients, um where you come onto their app and it they they usually have pictures of different um maybe melanoma, um squamous, um basal cell, uh, and you compare yours with theirs, and then you can call them, and then maybe for $59 they'll give you a video call back or an appointment of some kind. Um we wanted this to be a public service, and the closest that we could get to it being philanthropic in in every way is um uh the barrier to entry uh on a free opportunity to send a picture to a licensed dermatologist would entail a lot of people sending pictures of areas of their body or um dead animals or whatever it may be, um uh as a uh joke or intentionally just being obnoxious. Um, in order to cure that barrier, we do charge um there's a $9.99 in order to um send the dermatologist uh three ish three um images of their of the same lesion, and they can do it five times. So basically it's two dollars. Um and we are um we we we know that that will cut down not everyone because there are people that for ten dollars will have fun, but um um it's not perfect, but um that that cuts out uh a lot of that in the concern of the licensed professional.

Cabo Jim 12:47

Absolutely, absolutely. That's and then and not to joke about it, but it's people actually have skin in the game per se. You know, so how does

Photo Upload To Next Steps

Cabo Jim 12:57

the process work? So uh, you know, say somebody has something of concern, they come across your app. Um, what is the process from from them starting, you know, uh taking a couple of pictures to them submitting it and then getting in front of somebody who can diagnose. I don't say diagnose, but look at that. Certainly.

Barry Frank 13:18

Um, first of all, we do not direct any of it. A person could come in um and um according to zip code, the closest dermatology, uh dermatologists in that zip code uh or area within 50 miles um are allocated the the um lead at that point. Um and it it uh go goes to uh rotates if there's three dermatologists that are within that 50 mile area or whatever, um it it rotates and gives um uh one to each one as as their um as their business comes up on uh in into our app. Um the person submits that and they will get a reply that is and I'm going to tell you a suggested reply. The dermatologist will give their own uh assessment and use their own verbiage, but I'm going to call it suspicious or not suspicious just for this interview. Okay, so if it's suspicious, uh what that means, and uh that it's clinically significant at this time to do a follow-up as soon as you can. If it's not suspicious, it is not clinically um sufficient for uh an immediate uh concern of immediate concern. However, if you were diligent enough and concerned enough to have it looked at, it would be important for you to every three to six months come back and do it again and keep an eye on it. Whether you're going to the dermatologist um or or or not, you can always get the dermatologist that you come through on the first one, and then instead of going into the office three or six months from then, go back in and use your second um application and take three images of the same and the dermatologist, it'll go to the same dermatologist, and they can say, Well, this has changed in shape or color or size or whatever. We would suggest that you come in um or maybe make a video call uh and and they can discuss it and give you the options. And um, as as I said, that um there are going to be some people that have avoided it because um of expense or or um they they didn't have any dermatologists in their area, um, you know, of which we can get them to the closest one, hopefully. Um, but there's always some type of um um company out there that believes in this and is able to offer um a way to help. Um they will uh check to see if you have any kind or if you're eligible for any kind of um insurance of of uh different um different sorts. It can be anywhere from um blue cross to to um um any any of the um um nonprofits or charities out there, right? Yeah, yeah. So uh anyway, and we can um we we send them to the to the nonprofits and um in in their area, and it has worked. Um uh I worked with them years ago when I first started this, um, before we were able to put it electronically when we were in brick and

From 2000 Pilot To Today

Barry Frank 17:32

mortar.

Cabo Jim 17:32

So let's back up that story a little bit. So this isn't something you just thought of overnight, you know, it's not something that just popped up recently. Uh, as we mentioned earlier, you've been working on this for a lot of years, you know. It started what back on there, Arizona, right?

Barry Frank 17:48

It did. Um, and actually the first submission that I did was June 1st of 2000. Wow. I have um uh fortunately um Hurricane Ian took almost everything that um uh that that I had, but uh I was left with one file um from um um skin triage, of which it was called something else at the time, um, and it had some of the submissions and some of the background that we have. Um, but that was 26 years ago. Um, and I started with the University of Arizona uh and the uh chief of dermatology. Um and we we um actually um I got started in it, if you want me to explain that. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I had a um uh franchise system that I had um in high-end spas. This was at the turn of the century. Um and uh I think it was seven in four states, and um in all of them I had um aestheticians working, and there was a um a nurse uh or a um yeah, yeah, uh at least a nurse in everyone also. Um and I would visit them and I would uh also every couple months I would have um the managers or uh different people come in and we discuss what's going on there. But also at least once a month I I toured and went around to each one um and talked to people. Um and I I saw that there were a lot of these mostly women um that would that we did, although we did laser hair removal and things like that. A lot of men um had that done. Um but anyway, um I would see them coming in with blemishes, and I asked, what are they doing about um about that? Um and they said, Well, most of the women want that covered up. And I said, Well, you know, um I'm no uh I'm I'm nowhere near a doctor, and you know, I have trouble opening a band-aid, so you know I don't know that much about it, but I do know that um the you know it can the the there are cancerous um uh uh um lesions and tumors that that you can have on your body. Um, and if we're covering them up, uh you guys are licensed. You you need to let these tell these people to go get screened. And everybody jumped all over me. There is no screening. And I said, you know, come on. Yeah, yeah, there is, you know. Um nope, you have to go to a dermatologist or you know, healthcare professional at least. And if there's something that's wrong or suspicious, they're gonna send you to a dermatologist because they're the only ones that can um actually um do the surgeries. Um anyway, and by the way, at a future time I may tell you a little bit more about um there are some uh other other than actual surgery that you can um uh have have melanomas removed or have um um concerns removed um without without cutting. Very good, very good.

Cabo Jim 21:21

Yeah, well looking forward. I mean, we've got a lot to talk about. We're gonna be sharing some more in future episodes, um, but uh really excited about what you have going on

What To Do About Spots

Cabo Jim 21:30

here. What's one thing you would say to someone who has a spot they've been watching, but um keeps putting it off for one reason or another? What would you tell them?

Barry Frank 21:39

It's it's really not worth it. Um uh because the chances are that it probably is not going to um be because um the there there's about the statistic that's published, not something I I've come up with. Is that one in five people in the US um are going to detect a skin cancer of some kind in their lifetime. Um now that usually does not develop to a um something that could actually take your life. Uh and uh and and I'm saying usually, and this is not something that I know or that I'm telling you is is a fact. This is from my research, um and and um it's from what has already already been printed. Okay. I'm not doing this as a doctor, I I am not medically and I I gotta keep saying that uh to keep myself compliant and our company compliant. Um and if you wait too long, um it it does develop into something. And if it gets um if it does get to a malignancy, the the statistic that um I have seen and that we have probably reprinted um um from cancer societies um are that um once it becomes malignant, um you you are um one to five years uh you have. Um and once again, it usually takes a long time for that to happen. Uh not not all the time, it can happen really quickly uh and and overcome you. Um but what I'm saying, and the question was, what do I suggest? And that is if you have insurance and you're ignoring it, go and and take care of it. If you have the means to see somebody um uh uh and and and um uh a professional to give you an analysis of it, go do that. But if nothing else, come on to uh skin triage.org and for $9.99 you can get that satisfied. So if you're curious about any uh anything like that, um go ahead and do it. We are the only ones that I know of. Um, and the reason that we're doing it now and I come back to do it is because 26 years ago there was no no screening for it, and I thought I could provide a screening, but I can't. So we are not screening, we are getting people to a place where they can get screened to a professional, and we're doing it for almost a public service, and that's what we're all about.

Cabo Jim 24:55

Very good. I appreciate what you're doing. So you mentioned

SkinTriage.org Walkthrough And Closing

Cabo Jim 24:59

a website. Um, if people want to learn more, they can go there. Is there any place else they can uh get some more information on you?

Barry Frank 25:06

Well, um, we we are um it's um actually that is a web app, and we did that uh instead of just having a um an app. Um once you put screen triage.org um in your URL, all you have to do is is put skin in there, probably, unless you're uh got other other things that are or start with skin, and it'll pop up and everything is in there, all about us, um all the steps that you can take, what's gonna happen, how to do it, even how to take the pictures. Um there'll be a short um interview on there to help the dermatologist know uh approximately, you know, how many times you've had a sunburn, um uh and uh where where you live, um, an age group, um, things like that, where it is on your body. Um, and then they they can use all of that to determine besides the image, uh they have a uh background of um uh uh of things that they uh can can be more uh as as accurate as possible.

Cabo Jim 26:18

Very good, very good. Barry, I appreciate what you're doing. Uh you know, it's it's it's very needed, especially nowadays. And um, you know, uh it's helping a lot of people. I'm excited to see where this takes you and uh in helping people. That's all we're trying to do is help people and and get them the help and uh awareness that they need. So again, appreciate everything you're doing. Any last words for our listeners today?

Barry Frank 26:42

Well, yeah, um, I think everybody should know that what you're doing for um uh as basically a public service is you are helping um people like me who are trying to help people. Uh you're helping me get the word out um uh uh to people. Um you're showing a concern uh every bit as much as as we are. And um they should appreciate you for what you're doing. Um and they don't have to appreciate us, they just have to go and do we we think we're doing the right thing, and they need to do the right thing for themselves.

Cabo Jim 27:23

Absolutely, absolutely, 100%. Well, Barry, it's been a pleasure. Thank you for being uh, as I say, and uh such a good neighbor. And uh I look forward to upcoming episodes as well where we share some more information about where we're going and what we're doing. All right. And we will. Thanks so much, Jim. Yep.

Intro/Close 27:42

Thanks for tuning in to the Ft Myers beach, Good Neighbor Podcast. No shade, just sunshine, drama-free, positive vibes only. If you love the neighbor, share it with a friend