Esthetics and Ethics - Images in Dermatology Publications

Images are integral to the documentation of dermatological research. A poor-quality image might be the reason for rejection of an otherwise well-written manuscript. This article addresses common reasons for image quality-based rejections and revisions and discusses how to avoid these errors. While some of these errors can be corrected to an extent in post-processing, it is best to get the image right at the first instance. Most important aspects here would include background lighting, zoom, and framing. For images where pre-post comparisons are relevant, it would also be important to ensure consistency in terms of lighting, zoom, and patient position. The article also discusses the ethical aspects of images used in publications, including the concept of image resolution, the importance of consent, issues pertaining to copyright, plagiarism, and the ethics of image editing.