Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., and over half of U.S. citizens have smartphones. So, logically, it makes sense that you’d see smartphone apps popping up to help identify skin cancer. There are more than 200 smartphone apps devoted to skin care, and many of them assess whether a lesion could be melanoma or not. A study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) put four of these smartphone applications to the test to see if they could really compare to a visit at a dermatologist. The scary truth? These apps tended to register lesions as less serious than they were.
What the Study Found
The study sent photos of lesions, knowing which were melanoma and which were not, to see if the apps could accurately diagnose it. Three of the apps used an algorithm to diganose and one sent the photo to a board certified dermatologist who responded within 34-hours. Unsurprisingly, the apps that used some kind of alogrithm to figure out whether a lesion was cancer or not did pretty poorly. Even the best missed 18 out of 60 or 30% of melanoma cases in the photos.
The best of the four was the app that utilized a board certified dermatologist. Out of 53 photos of melanoma, only one ended up rated as “typical.” This app falls into a broader category of teledermatology, which is where doctors are able to use email and smartphones to communicate with patients. The downside, however, is that these apps only provide dermatologists with a single image, which can be difficult to use to come up with a diagnosis. And at $5 per lesion, this one was the most expensive. While this isn’t an ideal solution, as far as apps go, this one has the potential to help low-income and uninsured patients get checked out virtually by a doctor where they might not have initially.
This study is preliminary and, of course, these apps are a relatively new technology. Future iterations could bring the care of a doctor to people who wouldn’t seek it otherwise. But, there’s no regulation of such apps, and there’s no guarantee that an app will accurately diagnose your condition. As this study illustrates, it’s better to go to dermatologists, who spend about 930 outpatient hours every year with patients with dermatologic conditions, than trust an app with your health (American Journal of Managed Care).
But When Should You See a Dermatologist?
It can be tough to tell if you should worry about a mole or not, but there are a few ways you can check for lesions that could be melanoma. Just remember that the best person to tell if you have melanoma is a dermatologist and that some types of skin cancer appear differently and don’t all necessarily have the same warning signs. In addition to doing self-checks, you should also have a dermatologist check your moles regularly. For self exams, use the ABCD’s of moles (American Cancer Foundation).
A: Asymmetry — If one half of your mole appears different from the other, you should get it checked out.
B: Border Irregularity — Moles are generally pretty circular in shape. If you have a mole that’s oddly shaped or notched, then you should get it checked out.
C: Color — While most moles are generally one color, melanoma lesions can appear inconsistent in coloring. If your mole is different colors, you should get it checked out.
D: Diameter — Moles are usually less than 6 mm or 1/4 inch. If you have a mole that’s larger than 1/4 inch or 6 mm, you should get it checked out.
Finally, in checking regularly, you should pay attention to whether or not the moles on your body have changed. There are other warning signs, like the change of a pre-existing mole, a new bump or nodule, a change in color to the surrounding skin, swelling and/or redness past the mole, pain and tenderness, itching, bleeding, oozing, and a scaly appearance (American Melanoma Foundation).
There’s another way that apps can help you besides categorizing your lesions and that’s by helping you to track them over time. Apps like Skin Analytics let you take pictures of the moles on your body, giving you a baseline, that you can continue to use to track any changes. Just remember, your dermatologist should also be familiar with your moles as she or he will have a more discerning eye.
The Best Offense Is A Good Defense
Cliché, but true: the best way to prevent skin cancer is to be on the defense. We’re starting to hit the season where people don’t think it’s necessary to wear sunscreen, but they should. The sun is beaming down on you all year, and you should be protecting yourself all year. Make friends with your sunscreen and keep it in your beauty regimen as a permanent fixture, slathering it on every couple hours to make sure you’re constantly protected. Personally, I like to layer a chemical sunscreen under a mineral one for maximum protection.
I start with a physical sunscreen like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock with Helioplex ($11.99, amazon.com) and finish up with a mineral sunscreen like VaniCream Sunscreen SPF 50 ($33.69 for two, amazon.com).
Bottom Line
Skin care apps might be a neat showing of technology, but they’re no substitute for a dermatologist and they could have deadly consequences. Melanoma caught early can be treated, but waiting too long means that it’s harder and harder to cure. If you’re going to use skin care apps, consider one that helps you take pictures and track changes in your moles, but be sure to keep heading to your dermatologist regularly.