Is that mole cancerous? Your smartphone can figure it out

 Image source: Mirror.co

You are standing before a mirror when you notice a not-so-subtle change in your skin; a mole has suddenly grown bigger than the last time you observed it. It appears parched and crusty, surrounded by jagged edges and tinted with a peculiar shade of blue. You know something is wrong, but you aren't sure about what to do, and you begin to wonder whether your discovery came a little too late. Right then, the fear of the unknown starts to consume you.

 Image source: Abcnews.go.com

The abovementioned symptoms show how a cancerous mole can look as soon as it progresses. Melanoma, carcinoma, and other kinds of skin cancer affect 2 million Americans each year, but millions of lives have been saved through self-checks. Unlike most forms of cancer, your chances of surviving skin cancer are very high: the survival rate stands at an encouraging 95 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Image source: Healthverdict.com

Fortunately, you can monitor your skin health regularly with a preventive tool that comes conveniently in your smartphone. As reported by Forbes.com , a U.K.-developed mobile application called Skin Analytics allows you to capture images of your skin and keep a photographic profile to help you take note of changes to any mole or lesion. Although the app does not exactly diagnose, the saved photographic profile can be forwarded to your doctor for his perusal. Such information can help the specialist better assess whether or not the lesion typifies a cancerous growth, and if so, which type of treatment will best tackle the disease at its present stage.



Meanwhile, a more sophisticated diagnosis app for iOS users is being developed in University of Houston, according to MobileHealthNews.com. While it is in clinical trial, the app holds promise as it is able to correctly detect melanoma 95 percent of the time.

Dr. Dan Taheri heads LA Laser and Skin Center, and has co-authored a book titled “Practical Management of Skin Cancer.” Visit this website to know more about the wide range of measures to detect, treat, and prevent all types of skin cancers.