A new mobile phone app, which allows users to have images of their suspicious moles, spots and skin lesions analysed via a step-by-step skin self-exam, has been developed.
Not only do our phones double up as an alarm, camera and organiser – it can also serve as your personal, on-the-go e-doctor.
Cancer screening just went mobile.
Mobile phone app that helps 'detect' skin cancer signs
The UMSkinCheck app, created by scientists from the University of Michigan Health System, guides users through a series of 23 photos, covering the body from head to toe.
Photos are stored within the app and serve as a baseline for future comparisons.
The app then sends automatic reminders so users can monitor changes to the skin over time and encourages them to repeat a skin self-exam on a regular basis.
If a mole appears to be changing or growing, the photos can then be shared with a dermatologist to help determine whether a biopsy is necessary.
“Whole body photography is a well-established resource for following patients at risk for melanoma. However, it requires a professional photographer, is not always covered by insurance, and can be an inconvenience,” explains professor Michael Sabel. who helped create the app, said in a statement.
“Now that many people have digital cameras on their phones, it’s more feasible to do this at home.”
And if the warning sign indicator isn’t enough, the app also calculates your individual cancer risk using personal data input.
Intrigued? Download the app here on iTunes.
