Skin cancer apps that claim to spot cancerous moles ‘are putting people’s lives at risk’, experts warn
A particular area of concern was apps that failed to flag concern about red, crusty, scaly or ulcerated moles – a common sign of melanoma
UNTESTED skin cancer apps that claim to detect cancerous moles are putting people’s lives at risk, experts have warned.
While some apps may be able to correctly identify skin cancer they should not be used in place of seeing a doctor, the British Association of Dermatologists said.
Some apps, including Teledermatology, allows users to upload a photo of a mole and send it directly to a dermatologist while others allow you to store images on a database to check for monthly changes in a mole.
Experts at the University of Birmingham found Teledermatology correctly identified 88 per cent of people with skin cancer and 97 per cent with benign lesions.
Apps that use algorithms to detect irregularities came in second best, detecting 73 per cent of people with cancer.
But the numbers aren’t good enough.
In the UK 50 per cent of dermatology referrals are related to skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the fifth biggest type of the disease in the UK claiming more than 2,000 lives a year – but it’s got a survival rate of 90 per cent if it’s caught early.
But only 25 per cent of women and 10 per cent of men will survive the disease if it’s caught in its late stages.
Apps pose as a useful tool for alleviating pressure on dermatology departments, but they have not yet undergone enough testing to be used safely.
A particular area of concern was apps that failed to flag concern about red, crusty, scaly or ulcerated moles – a common sign of melanoma.
Other apps are unable to distinguish finer details between a cancerous and non-cancerous mole.
TAKE THE TEST This new interactive calculator will reveal your risk of deadly skin cancer
Lead author Maria Charalambides, from the University of Birmingham’s college of medical and dental sciences, said; “Future technology will play a huge part in skin cancer diagnosis.
“However, until adequate validation and regulation of apps is achieved, members of the public should be cautious when using such apps as they come with risk.
“Any software that claims to provide a diagnostic element must be subject to rigorous testing and ongoing monitoring.
“Apps specifically based on patient education of skin cancer can offer public health benefits in terms of how to stay safe in the sun, or the warning signs to look out for.
“But as per the British Association of Dermatologists recommendations, most apps cannot currently substitute dermatologist review when it comes to actual diagnosis.”
Matthew Gass of the British Association of Dermatologists, added: “These apps are not a replacement for an expert dermatologist, but they can be a useful tool in the early detection of skin cancer.
“We urge people who are thinking about using these apps to research how they work and to be cautious regardless of their recommendations.
“If a patch of skin such as a mole is changing in shape or size, not healing or just doesn’t seem right, go and see your GP regardless of what any app tells you.”
The findings of the study were presented at the British Association of Dermatologists’ Annual Meeting in Edinburgh today.
Protection is your best defence
Some 86 per cent of skin cancers are preventable
It's important that you are using sunscreens with SPF and UVA protection to best protect your from sun damage and skin cancer.
The NHS recommends we use sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15 and a UVA star rating of four or five.
The SPF number tells you the level of protection a cream offers against UVB rays.
While the star rating reveals UVA protection.
The higher the ratings the better protection the sunscreen offers.
Both UVA and UBV rays cause DNA damage in the skin, the type responsible for cancer.
In the UK, around 13,300 people a year are diagnosed with skin cancer every year, according to Cancer Research UK.
It occurs when damage is caused to the skin cells, most often by UV light from the sun or tanning beds.
UVA and UVB rays are the two main UV rays emitted by the sun.
MORE ON SKIN CANCER
UVA rays account for up to 95 per cent of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
UVA penetrates the inner layer of the skin, called the dermis, and UVB mainly affects the outer layer of the skin, called the epidermis.
This damage can trigger mutations, or genetic defects, that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours.
Spotting the early signs of the disease could make all the difference when it comes to survival.
Experts recommend you check you skin for signs of new moles, or existing ones changing, every couple of month.
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