Home News Could your selfie help to diagnose skin cancer? From a nail sticker to a dress, FEMAIL rounds up the groundbreaking technology allowing you to stay on top of your health

Could your selfie help to diagnose skin cancer? From a nail sticker to a dress, FEMAIL rounds up the groundbreaking technology allowing you to stay on top of your health

14 min read

Looking to prevent skin cancer? It is possible to do more than just routinely apply Factor 50 sunscreen and have regular skin checks.

In fact, what with technology in the health and beauty industry advancing as quickly as it is, you can now – or soon – use patches, nail stickers, selfies and more to monitor your skin and help identify potential skin conditions.

As new research reveals that a quarter of Australians are using selfies to digitally monitor changes to their skin, taking an estimated 100 million potentially life-saving snapshots a year, FEMAIL takes a look at the groundbreaking technology that could help you to identify skin cancer – or stay on top of your skin health.

There have been many advances in the skincare industry of late (stock image) - now you can use technology to stay on top of your skin

There have been many advances in the skincare industry of late (stock image) – now you can use technology to stay on top of your skin

Research reveals  a quarter of Australians are using selfies to digitally monitor changes to their skin, taking an estimated 100 million potentially life-saving snapshots a year (stock image)

Research reveals a quarter of Australians are using selfies to digitally monitor changes to their skin, taking an estimated 100 million potentially life-saving snapshots a year (stock image)

The Miiskin app (pictured) which was created to help people track how skin and moles look, has already received 100,000 downloads globally, including 12,000 in Australia

POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING SELFIES 

Miiskin's (pictured) mission is to help users spot changes in a personal health context

Miiskin’s (pictured) mission is to help users spot changes in a personal health context

Top of the newfangled ways by which you can monitor your skin is by downloading the Miiskin app, taking a photo and using the app to check your moles.

The app, which is free to download and created to help people track how skin and moles look, has already received 100,000 downloads globally, including 12,000 in Australia.

Miiskin’s mission is to help its users spot skin changes in a personal proactive health context:

‘Awareness of the importance of skin monitoring is increasing, with many people now documenting changes to their skin’s appearance,’ Jon Friis, founder and CEO of Miiskin, said.

‘While technology should never replace advice from a medical professional, it can help people spot significant changes occurring on their own skin. Early detection is important for successful treatment.’

Video playing bottom right.

The app that can spot cancer: SkinVision helps detect melanoma

You can also monitor your skin in other ways, including via a sticker (stock image)

You can also monitor your skin in other ways, including via a sticker (stock image)

This tiny beige and blue sticker (pictured), called UV Sense, adheres to your thumbnail and helps to monitor your UV exposure for several weeks at a time

This tiny beige and blue sticker (pictured), called UV Sense, adheres to your thumbnail and helps to monitor your UV exposure for several weeks at a time

NEWFANGLED NAIL STICKERS

Next on the list of technology currently making waves in the skincare industry is a tiny sticker by French skincare giant, La Roche Posay.

The tiny beige and blue sticker, called UV Sense, adheres to your thumbnail and helps to monitor your UV exposure for several weeks at a time.

It then indicates via a corresponding app on your smartphone or device when your exposure is elevated and therefore when you need to re-apply sunscreen.

While this nifty gadget is not yet available unless you live in the US (it’s set to launch elsewhere in 2019), initial studies from a previous iteration of the UV Sense (the My UV Patch) found that 34 per cent of users applied sun cream more often.

Even better, 37 per cent moved to shady areas more regularly.

Neutrogena have launched a UV-activated clothing prototype - designed to help you to avoid getting burnt (pictured before exposed to UV)

Neutrogena have launched a UV-activated clothing prototype - designed to help you to avoid getting burnt (pictured after)

Neutrogena have launched a UV-activated clothing prototype – designed to help you to avoid getting burnt (pictured before exposed to UV and after)

Marrying sun awareness with fashion, the prototype white dress and shorts are embroidered with UV-activated thread that changes colour when exposed to UV rays (pictured)

Marrying sun awareness with fashion, the prototype white dress and shorts are embroidered with UV-activated thread that changes colour when exposed to UV rays (pictured)

FASHION FOR THE SUN SAVVY

If you’re looking to be sun safe and in style, you could do worse than turn to L’Oreal.

Suncare statistics

* 78 per cent of Australians do not wear a primary sunscreen everyday.

* 72 per cent do not wear sunscreen everyday because they think they don’t need it.

* 51 per cent of Australians don’t wear sunscreen everyday because of the aesthetic impacts (feels oily, clogs pores, stains clothes etc).

* 63 per cent of Australians will only wear sunscreen when it’s sunny.

* 49 per cent of Australians admit the beach or pool is the main place where they apply sunscreen.

* 54 per cent aren’t concerned about being exposed to UV rays – or are only concerned when they’re in the sun for a long period of time.

* Skin cancer is the biggest concern, occupying 59 per cent.

* 19 per cent of Australians are most concerned about the aesthetic impacts of sun exposure including ageing, freckles and sun spots.

After the leading skincare brand found that 78 per cent of the population do not wear a primary sunscreen every day, and 72 per cent believe they don’t need to, they launched a UV-activated clothing prototype – designed to help you to avoid getting burnt.

Marrying sun awareness with fashion, the prototype white dress and shorts are embroidered with UV-activated thread that changes colour when exposed to UV rays.

The ‘Skinnovation Collection’ aims to demonstrate the small or incidental moments when consumers may be exposed to UV rays, illustrating why it’s so important to wear sunscreen daily – regardless of whether the sun’s out or not.

‘People often think they’ll only be exposed to UV when they’re outside in the direct sun,’ Neutrogena’s regulatory affairs manager, Nadine Saraceno, explained.

‘The collections shows us otherwise. UV is prevalent every day, all year round and in places we may not expect.

‘One of the best things women can do to protect their skin from sun damage and for anti-ageing is to use a sunscreen, meaning we should incorporate sunscreen into our daily routine.’

Launched in 2016, L'Oreal's stretchable skin sensor, the My UV Patch, was designed to monitor UV exposure and help consumers to educate themselves about sun protection (pictured)

Launched in 2016, L’Oreal’s stretchable skin sensor, the My UV Patch, was designed to monitor UV exposure and help consumers to educate themselves about sun protection (pictured)

The My UV Patch resembles a small band aid and protects against skin cancer by monitoring exposure to the sun and sending the readings to a connected app (pictured)

The My UV Patch resembles a small band aid and protects against skin cancer by monitoring exposure to the sun and sending the readings to a connected app (pictured)

The high-tech sensor contains photosensitive dyes which factor in the baseline skin tone and changes colour when it is exposed to UV rays (pictured)

The high-tech sensor contains photosensitive dyes which factor in the baseline skin tone and changes colour when it is exposed to UV rays (pictured)

HI-TECH HELP

A dermatologist’s view

‘I have started to discuss these apps with patients in my clinic. I believe they can play an important role in skin monitoring. Patients should check with their doctor first if they have any significant concerns about a spot. The apps are good at reminding people to check the lesion they are monitoring – eg every three months.

‘I wouldn’t use the apps for diagnosis, but as an adjunct to clinical care. Melanomas have different growth rates, some can appear over weeks and others may slowly enlarge over years. Most melanomas (85 per cent) are superficial spreading, growing slowly and flat along the skin. There is time to pick these up. Lumpy melanomas are more serious and usually more aggressive.’

Launched in 2016, L’Oreal’s first ever stretchable skin sensor, the My UV Patch, was designed to monitor UV exposure and help consumers to educate themselves about sun protection.

The My UV Patch resembles a small band aid and protects against skin cancer by monitoring exposure to the sun and sending the readings to a connected app.

The high-tech sensor contains photosensitive dyes which factor in the baseline skin tone and changes colour when it is exposed to UV rays.

To see how much UV exposure they have received, wearers take a photograph of the patch on their smartphone and then upload it to a special app.

The app then advises the wearer whether to apply more sun cream or take a break and head for the shade.

The product was again launched through La Roche Posay, whose skincare laboratory pride themselves on being at the heart of skin cancer prevention.

[“Source-ndtv”]

Load More Related Articles
Load More By Loknath Das
Load More In News
Comments are closed.