20.11.19
Tackling skin cancer with personal photo record
The Skin Health Alliance have published results from survey of 245 dermatologists outlining that patients’ own photos play an important role in skin cancer self-monitoring.
Latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that more than 140,000 cases of skin cancer are detected in the UK each year, and regular self-examinations can detect early changes to the skin.
98% of dermatologists in the survey said that regularly checking your own skin is important for high risk patients and 93% said using photographs of moles and wider area is a good way of monitoring changes.
According to independent research from Miiskin, a skin mapping app, only 1 in 10 people in Britain use photographs to keep track of their moles.
Matthew Patey, managing director, Skin Health Alliance, said:
“Consumer technology can play an important role in supporting self-monitoring of changes to the skin – so patients seek medical advice early. Miiskin is the only app to have received our accreditation. It does not attempt to diagnose skin cancer and is an advocate of changes to moles and skin being checked by a clinician.”
Miiskin and the British Skin Foundation have been working together to raise awareness of the importance of self-examination for early detection.
Using technology over previous best practice of a pen and paper means quicker and easier tracking of moles and makes comparing skin over time more effective.
Dr Anton Alexandroff, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation said:
“Our work strives to raise awareness of symptoms and increase the rate of early detection. Having more people educated about the warning signs and regularly checking their skin will support this. Technology now makes it easier for patients to check their skin and create photographic records to show how their skin has changed and in what timeframe.”