An iPhone app that looks for skin cancer

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An iPhone app that looks for skin cancer

Posted by: Colleen Stoxen Updated: July 20, 2012 - 12:28 PM

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A new app for mobile phones out of the University of Michigan allows users to take photos of their skin -- all of it -- as a basis for comparison should suspicious moles or lesions be detected.

Skin cancer lends itself well to DIY diagnosis. It manifests itself visibly and early on, and should, in theory, be easy to detect. But no matter how much time you may spend staring at yourself in the mirror, subtle changes in pre-existent spots or moles that may presage melanoma might not be so obvious. UMSkinCheck establishes a degree of clinical objectivity in the self-exam. Aside from establishing your skin's baseline (see my foray into self-portraiture below), this new, free app includes a risk-assessment survey, periodic reminders to check your body for any signs of cancer, and examples of cancerous lesions so that you know what you're looking for.