A blockchain-driven platform wants to reduce the influence that biased shop assistants and product marketers have on consumers in the skincare industry, and instead create an ecosystem where shoppers can receive expert, impartial advice from qualified dermatologists.

Opu Labs says consumers are currently overwhelmed with an avalanche of information online and believes they are not getting the service they deserve. For the millions of people out there with skin conditions, it’s often difficult to find the right treatments to cosmetically and medically deal with their complaints.

The company believes that artificial intelligence (AI) and big data holds the key to making shoppers better informed – helping them to save money and dramatically reduce the amount of time they spend researching which products to buy.

One of the centerpieces of the start-up’s offering is Opu AI. Here, users can upload an image of their face which will be analyzed for redness, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation or acne across four specific regions. They are then given a score for each of these areas, and “personalized, intelligent” advice on which products could help improve their skin’s condition. The company already has an early version of this software available to view online. As time progresses, it’s hoped that Opu AI will develop the capability to analyze skin elsewhere around the body.

This technology, which is being developed into apps for smartphones, tablets and web browsers, will be coupled with other powerful tools. One of these services will enable dermatologists and patients to connect with each other directly, making it easy for consultations to be held and treatment plans to be established in a secure setting. Blockchain would also create the capability for medical records to be held confidentially and shared with skincare professionals with the patient’s consent.

Opu Labs believes that data has the potential to create breakthroughs in how skincare conditions are treated – helping product manufacturers to identify gaps in the market and launch new items that the public crave. This is why another of its core services, Opu Connect, would give users the chance to share their personal information with brands and researchers. Those who do so have the chance to be rewarded in Opu coins, a utility coin which has been built specifically for the ecosystem.

Giving the Public What They Deserve

According to Opu Labs, there are more than 500 mln people on Facebook who have an interest in skincare, but right now, it’s difficult to cut through the noise and get recommendations and information they can depend upon. The company believes its ecosystem will help to fill that void.

Research compiled by the company shows that a mere 12 percent of those who purchase skincare products have sought the opinion of a dermatologist beforehand. This is a luxury that 80 percent of consumers would enjoy. 

Opu Labs has created a profile of the typical consumer it believes will benefit from its ecosystem. Aged between 18 and 35, they will generally have an interest in personal care and skincare – spending roughly $75 monthly on goods and services in this space. Often, they will be highly educated office workers and college students – and among them will be pregnant women and new moms. It also anticipates that one in five of its users will be men.

Already, 2018 is proving to be a pivotal year for Opu Labs. Its presale is taking place in June, with a bonus of up to 100 percent being offered to early contributors. The full initial coin offering launches one month later.

In the coming months, its technology is scheduled to launch across Asia, the US, and Europe, with the functionality for recommending treatments expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Do you think that Opu Labs can improve access to and quality of skincare for patients? Let us know in the comments below.

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