The University of Michigan officially announced the development of a
new App for the iPhone and iPad which allows users to screen for skin
cancer. The App prompts the user to take
23 different photographs which would provide a baseline for comparison. Periodically, the App will remind the user to
take photos again…then a comparison can be made to the baseline.
At first, I was a little skeptical of this new App, called UMSkinCheck,
because I thought it was supposed to make a diagnosis. It doesn’t.
From what I understand (I don’t own an iPhone), it provides the user
with sample photos of melanoma so as to compare with known bad lesions. It also quizzes the user to make an assessment
of his/her risk of melanoma. Finally, I
believe it reminds the user that it’s time for a skin check with the
dermatologist. At least I hope this is
true.
My dermatologist explained to me that everyone has their own version of
a “normal mole.” A spot that may be
normal to me might be abnormal to another.
It seems that “normalcy” is defined as to whether one has several moles
that match. “Look for a mole’s partner,”
says my doctor. “If you find a match,
particularly close by, then you probably have no worries. But if the mole is unique to your skin (has
no partner), make sure to see the dermatologist.”
This is where I have some problem with UMSkinCheck. It’s quite possible that one may have
melanoma and it not match the sample photos provided. (My brother’s second bout of melanoma was
simply thought to be a dry patch of skin).
Or vice versa, a mole might seem suspicious based on the samples, but it
turns out to be one’s “normal mole,” thus causing undo worry.
Another potential issue is that the 23 photos require you to be
completely naked. And it requires
someone to take the photos. Okay, I can
see where this could be a fun experience, but it might make the recommended
frequency of every 90 days or less a little difficult to achieve. Plus, I’m not sure I’d want 23 photos of my
naked body on my iPhone. Rest assured
that UMSkinCheck is password protected.
I think the primary benefit is that it establishes a database of photos
whereby one can make comparisons. I’m
sure there could be some variance in lighting, focus, and distance which might distort
the photo from previous pictures, so I hope they have some pretty clear
guidelines on how to take a photo.
It’s good to see a device available that encourages people to check
their skin. A monthly self-exam is
recommended by many sources, so this may prompt folks to make this a habit. But self-exams should be considered a
supplement to an annual skin exam by one’s dermatologist: a real person, not an
App. He/she is the true expert and
should know your skin a little better than the phone.
If you’ve downloaded the UMSkinCheck App, please share your thoughts. Offer up a review and I’ll be happy to share
it in this blog.
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