Teleassessment is important for early detection of skin cancer

Most Skane County health care centers now offer faster evaluation of skin changes with teledermatoscopy. The technology consists of a smartphone with camera attachments, which makes it possible to photograph suspicious skin changes and have them evaluated by a remote expert.

Teledermatoscopy is an important piece of the puzzle. Compared to writing a referral, it is faster to have your skin change assessed by a dermatologist. It also means we can rule out harmless skin changes more quickly, says Gustav Christensen, chief physician at the Skin Clinic in Sousse.

During the last 12 months, 3,546 suspected cases were sent to Scania and assessed by dermatologists using this tool. Average response time is 40 hours.

Fewer major operations with rapid diagnosis

As with all types of cancer, it is important to detect it in time so that it does not have time to spread. The earlier and smaller the change, the smaller the intervention itself. Today, the vast majority are fully cured with a simpler surgical procedure, says Gustav Christensen.

He recommends checking his skin prosthesis regularly so he can contact health care early with potentially serious skin changes. In order to spot potential skin changes, there are a few things you need to be aware of.

– In general, you should pay attention to change. But what happens over the course of a day or night is rarely a barrier to skin cancer. It takes time for skin cancer to appear. What you should pay particular attention to is whether you have a new dark skin change that is more than one color, has an irregular shape or is uneven at the edges, he says.

Different types of cancer look different

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma often occur on parts of the body exposed to the sun such as the face, head and chest. On the other hand, melanoma can appear anywhere on the body, even under the soles of the feet. However, sun-exposed areas are the most common, even when it comes to melanoma.

– Melanoma can also occur in a birthmark, so if you have a birthmark that has changed in character, you should do so.

Call the health center for evaluation. Basal cell carcinoma can appear as a nodule or spot and resemble eczema, while squamous cell carcinoma is usually a nodule that grows on itself, says Gustav Christensen.

How to examine the skin yourself (1177.se)