Scroll through Apple’s App Store and you’ll find a wide array of medical apps for sale. These apps offer quick fixes for everything from sleep disorder to alcoholism. You can buy an app to help treat baldness and to help remove wrinkles.
“I think when it comes to apps it is the Wild West,” said Dr. John Santa, former medical director at Consumer Reports.
Many of these health apps that claim to cure a disease or condition don’t follow medical guidelines. There’s no government testing, so consumers must rely on ads and anonymous online reviews.
“As far as I can tell there’s no regulation. There’s no Good Housekeeping seal of approval. There’s no organized effort to really tell you which of these apps is worthwhile,” said Dr. Santa. 
Many health apps can be useful, particularly those connected to doctors and hospitals. Others with no scientific basis simply don’t work.
“You would hope they would come from a credible source,” said Dr. Santa. “Do they come from a clinical team, a clinical center, someone that is either licensed or to some degree regulated?”
The “Anti-Aging Wrinkle Eraser” cost $1.99. The app emits a high-pitched sound and turns your iPhone screen bright green.
“Hold your iPhone or iPod Touch about 1 to 3 inches away from the targeted area of treatment and begin your anti-aging therapy session,” the app instructions read.
Light treatments can be used to relieve some medical issues, but a cellphone screen is too weak to help, according to a dermatologist.
“I just don’t think the smart phone is going to be powerful enough to accomplish anything significant,” said Dr. Matthew McClelland of Providence Health.
United Holdings Group, the creator of the “Anti-Aging Wrinkle Eraser” did not reply for comment. The company has other apps, including “Anti-Aging Hair Growth.”
Both the wrinkle eraser and hair-growth apps include the endorsement of Becky Kuehn of Tacoma, Washington.
“I have been using Color and Sound Therapy at my Spa and have achieved wonderful Anti-Aging results!” wrote Kuehn, owner of Spa by the Bay.
When reached by email, Kuehn said the endorsement was in reference to a piece of equipment in her spa, not the app.
Both the Anti-Aging Wrinkle Eraser and Anti-Aging Hair Growth apps have a disclaimer.
“This application has not been designed to diagnose, treat or cure and medical conditions and is mainly for aesthetic concerns,” said the disclaimer.
Some health apps could actually do more harm than good.
Dr. Matthew McClelland of Providence Health worries medical apps could give inaccurate information about a patient’s condition.
“There are some skin cancer detection apps that claim to know the difference between healthy moles and skin cancer like melanoma,” explained Dr. McClelland. “If you are relying on app, instead of going to see your doctor, there’s a good chance that the App can miss the skin cancer.”
In 2015, the Federal Trade Commission fined the creators of two melanoma detection apps. MelApp and Mole Detective were barred from claiming they could detect skin cancer.
Several medical apps are free, but many others must be purchased. Prices begin at less than a dollar.
Medical experts say consumers should not invest too much time or money in medical apps without doing some research, including speaking with your doctor.
“Someone could be making this app in their basement. They may not have any medical training,” warned Dr. McClelland.
[Source:KGW]
