ADVICE
Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month: How Mole Checking Can Safeguard Your Patients – and Your Practice
Melanoma is often misunderstood – by patients and practitioners alike. In the aesthetic sector, where professionals spend more time than most examining skin up close, there’s a powerful yet underutilised opportunity: becoming part of the early detection pathway for skin cancer.
This month, we’ve partnered with Map My Mole, a skin lesion checking service that offers expert dermatological assessment of moles or lesions via photographs, to empower aesthetic practitioners and clinics with the knowledge and tools needed to contribute to early detection and prevention.
The Silent Threat in Plain Sight
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. While non-melanoma types (such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) are more prevalent, melanoma is the most dangerous. It accounts for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths, and its rates are rising – particularly among individuals under 50.
One of the most common misconceptions is that melanomas only develop from pre-existing moles. In reality, over 60% appear as new lesions on previously normal skin. This underscores the importance of vigilance around all skin changes – not just those already labelled as moles.
Who Is Most at Risk?
While anyone can develop skin cancer, certain groups are at significantly higher risk. These include:
- Individuals with fair skin and light-coloured eyes, particularly those with Fitzpatrick skin types I or II
- Those with a history of excessive UV exposure, whether through sunlight or tanning beds
- People with a family history of skin cancer, especially first-degree relatives
- Individuals with numerous or atypical moles (also known as dysplastic naevi)
- Immunocompromised patients, such as transplant recipients or those undergoing certain long-term treatments
Identifying and advising these patients – even informally – could be the first step in potentially life-saving action.
You can read more in the Mole Guide here.
The Aesthetic Clinic’s Hidden Superpower
Many aesthetic practitioners unknowingly operate on the front line of early skin cancer detection. From injectables to skin treatments, the intimate nature of aesthetic care offers a unique view of the skin that patients themselves may not notice or think to raise.
Incorporating basic awareness and a simple signposting protocol into your consultations isn’t about crossing clinical boundaries – it’s about responsible care, building trust, and doing right by your patients.
Changing the Narrative Around Skin Health in Aesthetics
Historically, discussions around skin cancer have been siloed from the aesthetic space. Yet more clients are asking about moles or requesting removal of blemishes without medical clearance. Without a clear referral pathway, there’s a risk of inadvertently treating skin cancers as cosmetic concerns.
By adopting a preventative, patient-first approach, clinics can elevate their standard of care – moving from purely cosmetic services to a more holistic, ethical model of practice.
Better Care Starts With Better Awareness
You don’t need to be a dermatologist to make a difference. Simply observing, opening a conversation, and pointing patients to appropriate next steps can be the start of something life-changing.
This May, be the clinic that cares. Encourage your patients to download the Map My Mole app, which guides them through the process of submitting their mole images for expert review.
Here’s how it works:
- The patient (or clinic) submits clear, high-quality photographs of the mole or lesion via the app
- A dermatologist assesses the images and returns an expert opinion within 48 hours
- If necessary, the patient is referred to their GP or a specialist for further investigation
This process is quick, clinically sound, and easy to integrate into your practice – whether you introduce it during consultations or through educational displays. As a participating clinic, you’ll also be listed as a provider on the Map My Mole locator tool.
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