Hairstylists can not only make you look great, they can also save your life!
They are among the first to notice the tell-tale signs of deadly skin cancer. A new study published in the Archives of Dermatology found that hairstylists frequently examine their clients’ scalp, neck and face looking for moles and lesions that could be signs of cancer.
A new study of more than 200 hair professionals found that one in three are doing this. Almost 60% said they had recommended a client visit a skin doctor on at least one occasion.
A survey of Texas hair salons also found that half the hairdressers want to learn more about skin cancer to help doctors screening for the disease.
“What we would like to do in the next couple of years is to train as many hair professionals as possible,” said Alan Geller, of Harvard’s School of Public Health in Boston, lead researcher of the study.
“Almost every dermatologist I’ve talked to anecdotally has said to me, Yes, I’ve had a melanoma case referred to me by a hair professional,” added Geller.
“I’ve had numerous referrals from hairdressers,” said Dr. Michele Green, a dermatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “They notice, because that’s what they’re doing all day long.”
The study researchers are now working with the Melanoma Foundation of New England to create a program to train hair professionals in Massachusetts on how to recognize signs of skin cancer.
If you are wondering why they are doing this, the answer is simple – there aren’t enough dermatologists to go around. That’s why they are partnering with non-medical personnel.
So be prepared. Next time you visit a hair salon, you might end up with a referral to a dermatologist.
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