Smartwatches in Dermatology - Current Applications and Its’ Potential in the Future

Background: The rapid expansion of wearable technology led to the widespread adoption of smartwatches as tools for continuous health monitoring. These devices allow tracking of physiological and behavioral parameters such as heart rate, physical activity and sleep patterns. Although their clinical utility has been widely explored in many medical specializations, their potential role in dermatology remains relatively underinvestigated despite the high global prevalence of skin diseases. Objective: This review aimed to evaluate current and potential applications of smartwatches in dermatology and to characterize selected smartwatch devices with regard to their health-related features with emphasis on parameters relevant to dermatology. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted focusing on studies investigating smartwatch use in dermatologic contexts. Additionally, two commercially available devices were characterized with regard to their health-monitoring capabilities and dermatologic relevance. Results: Current evidence indicates several promising dermatologic applications of smartwatches. Motion sensors may enable objective monitoring of scratching behavior in patients with pruritic conditions like atopic dermatitis. Sleep monitoring functions provide insights into the relationship between sleep disturbances and skin health including changes in hydration, elasticity and overall skin quality. Furthermore, smartwatches capable of displaying ultraviolet radiation exposure may potentially support skin cancer prevention by encouraging sun-protective behaviors. Smartwatch-derived data may also complement teledermatology by providing continuous metrics that support remote monitoring and research. Conclusions: Despite limited dermatology-specific functionalities, smartwatches show potential for symptom monitoring, lifestyle assessment and preventive dermatologic care. Their integration with teledermatology may enhance patient management through continuous objective data and improved remote monitoring.