Australia is infamously known as the , but in the fight to curb increasing skin cancer numbers an unlikely hero is emerging. or signup to continue reading Beauty therapists and hairdressers are helping screen for deadly melanomas and taking pressure off an already stressed healthcare system. In fact, they are becoming potential lifesavers by intervening when medical attention might have been delayed.
People who work in the beauty, anti-ageing and industries are in a prime position to spot skin abnormalities on a client's face, neck, ear and scalp areas during routine visits. Therapists spend up to one hour at a time in direct contact with the client's skin multiple times a year, and they can also access hard-to-see spots. With such intimate and frequent interactions, they would know skin better than the client's GP or dermatologist.
The delay in the identification process is a big part of the skin cancer challenge. A therapist noticing a suspicious spot could be the difference between life and death for someone. We know 90 per cent of melanomas can be treated successfully if caught early, and early detection is associated with high survival rates.
It's why an online training course targeting beauty, hair, tattoo and allied health professionals has been set up by NSW TAFE. The "Spot a Spot?" program aims to increase early awareness and detection to reduce cancer-related deaths. When a therapist notices a suspicious spot or change in the skin and starts a conversation about it,.