Boots this week (May 21) revealed the launch of dermatology training to equip its pharmacy staff to provide “advice and treatment” on the “most common skin conditions” free of charge with no appointment needed.
The training covers conditions including acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, keratosis pilaris, rosacea and hyperpigmentation, as well as melanoma, skin structure, skin microbiome and scalp health, it said.
The training will be rolled out to “pharmacists and pharmacy team members” in 200 stores across the country, with “more stores to be added in the coming months”, it added.
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It has been approved by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and was developed with the L’Oréal Groupe and leading consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall, Boots said.
The chain first revealed that more than 4,000 of its pharmacists would be offered dermatology training in May last year, but it was unclear when the training would be delivered.
It remains unclear whether the training is optional and whether pharmacists will be paid more for offering dermatological services.
AI tool
Boots also this week announced the launch of a new “AI-powered” tool that can screen for more than 70 skin conditions.
The “SmartSkin Checker” is available for free via Boots Online Doctor where patients can upload a photo of a skin concern, it said.
“Using AI technology, the tool will return up to five possible skin conditions the patient is experiencing including acne, eczema, rosacea, impetigo and fungal infections,” it added.
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Boots claimed that there is a “95% likelihood that one of the five results returned by the SmartSkin Checker is the correct condition”, according to clinical studies to determine accuracy rates.
But it stressed that the results are “not a diagnosis and do not replace advice from a trained healthcare professional”, and instead “help provide customers with an indication and advise on next steps”.
Read more: Thousands of Boots pharmacists to be offered dermatology training
Meanwhile, Boots is also expanding its “best-selling” own-label skincare brand DermaCare to include an acne range with “five targeted products” classed as medical devices that have been “developed to treat symptoms of acne”, it said.
It comes as the multiple has also revealed that it has offered its beauty advisors and pharmacists menopause-specific training modules to help improve their knowledge and offer “expertise” to customers.
