16 Apr Only Trust a Dermatologist to Catch Skin Cancer
In the “digital era” there seems to be an app for everything, including catching skin cancer. However, you don’t want to trust anyone but a dermatologist to keep you and your skin healthy. At RefinedMD, we recommend an annual “mole check” so that signs of skin cancer can be caught and treated as early as possible. Supplementing other options for catching skin cancer won’t hurt your skin cancer screening, but should not replace seeing your dermatologist.
Research in The BMJ found that every phone app that’s come out to detect skin cancer simply isn’t reliable. According to British scientists, nine studies were analyzed and included six of the leading “skin cancer apps.” The majority of the studies did have design problems, but that did not supersede the fact that the apps simply weren’t accurate. In fact, one app didn’t identity five out of the five melanomas presented—the deadliest of all skin cancers.
There are other types of skin cancers, too, and all have the potential to be deadly if not treated. Another app analyzer failed to detect 12 percent of cancerous moles and wrongly diagnosed 21 percent of benign moles (calling them cancerous when they weren’t). It’s important to keep in mind that no skin cancer app has been approved by the FDA, which is a sign that these apps should be taken with a grain of salt.
The Real Skin Cancer Supporters
It’s not apps that regularly spot signs of skin cancer in non-dermatological settings, but hair stylists. However, once again, you certainly shouldn’t depend on your stylist to keep your skin safe. Still, it’s a reminder that you simply can’t check every part of your body by yourself (including all of your scalp) for signs of cancer. Hair stylists are aware of their unique position as confidantes and having a different view of the skin, and some salons are taking this responsibility seriously.
One salon in Wisconsin joined an Eyes on Cancer program to help stylists learn to identify red flags and encourage patients to see a dermatologist. According to stylist Larissa Tierney, “We get to see spots on (the clients’) skin and their heads that they don’t normally see. The program has really helped us to identify something that would maybe be a little off, moles or weird skin spots.”
Another stylist in the salon, Leah Noel Hagerdorn, says she’s on a mission to educate. “I had skin cancer, malignant melanoma, back in 2000,” she says. “So, I’ve been in remission for 19 years now.” Currently, there is only one salon in Milwaukee that has been certified by the Eyes on Cancer Program. However, it’s not actively marketed to the public. “It’s just a little value-added service that we like to include,” says another stylist.
If your salon isn’t Eyes on Cancer certified, don’t worry. These stylists are simply doing what you can ask a loved one or friend to do: regularly check areas of your head and body for suspicious moles following the ABCDEs of skin cancer. It’s a good idea to schedule recurring “check sessions” with a friend or loved one every few months instead of relying solely on your dermatologist’s once a year check.
What Skin Cancer Really Looks Like
There are standards set for what a suspicious mole looks like including one that’s asymmetrical (A), with irregular borders (B), color-changing (C), has a diameter (D) larger than a pencil’s eraser, and is evolving (E). Still, that doesn’t mean all malignant moles follow the ABCDEs of skin cancer. Sometimes a “spot” looks harmless or has simply “always been there,” which can make a patient skip a trip to the dermatologist. This is what happened to Jeska Forsyth when she noticed a “mark” on her forehead in 2008 that she brushed aside as acne. She didn’t see a dermatologist until 2014 when her mother insisted, and by then she was diagnosed with three major types of skin cancer.
Forsyth said the mark had scabbed and fallen off repeatedly over the years. Her skin cancer returned twice before Forsyth was declared in remission from basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. It’s important to remember that regular checks with your dermatologist is the best way to catch skin cancer early and treat it. If you haven’t scheduled your annual mole check for 2024, call RefinedMD today or complete the online contact form.