Skin cancer is an unusual cancer in that it often hides in plain sight, looking like pimples, warts, and other benign growths. A regular full body photo-exam professionally done at a clinic can be useful as a screening tool for early cancer detection, but it’s time consuming, can be expensive, and may not appeal to people who don’t like to undress in front of strangers.
A team of researchers at the University of Michigan Health System, including practicing physicians, developed an iPhone/iPad app called UMSkinCheck for performing self exams and for visual surveillance of suspicious moles and legions over time. The app stores 23 shots from each of the previous self exams, comprising the skin surface of the entire body, and permits tracking of objects on the skin from one photo exam to the next.
More from the app’s iTunes page:
A skin cancer self exam is used to identify suspicious moles or lesions that may be cancer or growths that may develop into skin cancer (precancers). Individuals who are at a high risk of skin cancer are encouraged to perform frequent skin self exams and to have full body photographic surveys taken by professional photographers. Using UMSkinCheck, patients will be able to complete a full skin cancer self exam and photo survey, track and create a history of moles and lesions and receive regular reminders to perform follow up self exams and check on lesions that are being tracked.
iTunes link: UMSkinCheck…
U of M press release: U-M offers new skin cancer mobile app…
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