Hey, Look Me Over

It’s tanning season and that means it’s prime time to remind clients of the importance of examining their skin for any early signs of skin cancer, which is highly curable when found and treated early. New research shows that involving a partner in the self-examination process, particularly one with whom an individual has a good relationship, makes it more likely that self screening will happen and can improve the early detection of skin cancer, which could lead to a better prognosis.

According to a report published last year in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the patients who were assisted by a partner in performing skin self-exams were more likely to follow a regular detection routine than those who relied solely on themselves for motivation.

So encourage clients to enlist a spouse, family member, or friend to help with their self-exams and to report any suspicious moles or unusual changes to their dermatologist immediately.