[Defying Melanoma]

I read in last Sunday’s newspaper that there was an app to help in the detection of melanoma (MelApp was the one referenced).  Of course, being the tech-geek I am, I was intrigued to say the least.  Upon further research, there are actually quite a few Apps out there.  DISCLAIMER: I downloaded the free apps, but not the others. 

 Skin of Mine (free)

Description from iTunes

Be treated by a dermatologist or dermatology nurse practitioner online licensed in your state. Consultations starting at $20.
***ONLINE CONSULTATIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN: CA, CT, DC, LA, MA, MD, MO, NE, NJ, NY, PA, VA, NV, OR, TX, UT, and WA *** Upload a photo of your skin and submit for consultation, or do an automated analysis of your wrinkles or moles.

This app requires an account to do anything with. As loathe as I am to create yet another online account, I did it so I could see what it’s all about. Once putting in your name, password, email, country and zip code, you have to agree to the terms and conditions: bottom line? Informational purposes only, not medical advice.

First you are greeted with a naked body drawing and you choose your gender.  You can zoom in and then hold down to mark the spot. You’re then prompted to take a photo or insert a photo of the actual spot.  Once you take the photo, you can have it analyzed by drawing a little circle around it. The app takes into account Asymmetry, Border Scallop, Border Fade and Color Irregularity. Here are some screen shots. What I like most about this app is that it is completely usable even without an online consultation. You can take photos and keep them to compare to future photos, thereby keeping track visually if there have been changes. And the instant analysis was fairly spot on for this particular mole of mine.

 Skin Scan ($4.99)

Description from website: Skin Scan is a medical application created for you to easily scan and monitor your moles over time in order to prevent skin cancer. With a clean and simple interface Skin Scan can be your pocket scan technology anywhere

I did not buy this app. It looks ok from the screen shots, but I can’t really say how well it works. Since I see my dermatologist every 6 months and my oncologist every 6 months, I couldn’t really see spending the money. If you’ve used it, please leave a comment!

MelApp ($1.99)

Description from website: Whether sunning on the beach, cheering at the kids’ outdoor sporting events or hitting the slopes, chances are you’re being affected by damaging UV rays. MelApp for iPhone is an image-based risk assessment mobile app that assists in the early detection of melanoma.

I was going to download this one, but every single review was horrible. There is a developer note that as of Jan 22 they are working on a Version 2, so I think I’ll wait to see what happens. It certainly looks like it has potential. Here’s the developer website so you can check it out.

 Spot Check (free to use, $4.99 to submit)

 Description from App Website: Using SpotCheck is easy: Take a photo of your mole, answer two questions about it, and send the image off for a response with a simple in-app purchase. Within 24 hours a certified dermatologist will look at your photo and tell you whether it appears normal. You can also find nearby dermatologists for an in-person skin examination, and learn more about moles and melanoma.

This is a very simple app to use, but you can only send your photo in for analysis if you live in California, New York and New Jersey. It’s a matter of taking a picture and answering two questions, which are really common sense for those of us who know, but decent for those who don’t.  It’s definitely a good start, but certainly not a replacement for something more advanced or a dermatologist.

 Mollie’s Fund (free)

Description from iTunes

The Have You Checked Your Skin Lately? app from the Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation is a useful and potentially life-saving guide to keeping safe from the sun.

Learn how to give yourself a monthly skin exam and how to tell if your moles are the kind that you should tell a dermatologist about.

Keep track of your self-exams with the Monthly Skin Check Log and follow the essential tips to ensure that you are always practicing sun safety!

Mollie’s Fund is a nice app that helps with the basics of checking your skin, provides a calendar to mark your skin checks to make sure you’re doing them regularly, as well as giving additional skin cancer resources. Very pretty app that reflects the beauty of the app’s namesake.  Definite download, if no other reason to prove to your dermatologist that you’re doing your monthly skin checks and to be reminded to do so.