Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/810147
www.ascpskincare.com 63 Measuring Moles This mole measurement guide is made of flexible plastic to mold to rounded parts on the body. It has precut holes that measure from 3 millimeters to 9 millimeters. Anything larger than 6 millimeters with unusual signs needs to be referred to a physician. To get this guide at no cost, plus a mole counting and measuring intake form that can be completed in the spa, visit www.oti-oncologytraining.com/product-category/retail. SCREENING AND REFERRING Skin care clients with numerous benign nevi—small, regularly shaped, and uniformly pigmented moles—are at increased risk of melanoma. The same applies to your clients who have a few dysplastic nevi—large, irregularly shaped, and heterogeneously pigmented moles. Clients in either group may have a five-times higher risk of developing melanoma compared with those with few benign nevi or without dysplastic nevi. However, it is critical to recognize that these pre-existing moles represent a risk factor for melanoma, rather than precursor lesions, in most cases. The vast majority of dysplastic nevi do not give rise to melanoma. If a mole on the body has been dismissed by a physician as "nothing" and you notice it is changing, you need to let the client know. A changing mole is a dangerous mole and always needs evaluation by a dermatologist. By performing self-skin examinations on a regular basis, clients and estheticians have the power to detect changing moles and to bring them to the attention of their physician—and even insist on a biopsy. When melanoma is caught in the earliest stages, it's almost 100 percent treatable. Spa professionals who want to create skin cancer awareness can create an add-on service to their spa menus, such as a mole counting and measuring service. It needs to be made clear that you are only counting and measuring moles to help your clients be aware of the moles they have, without making any type of diagnoses. Remember to work within the scope of your license. While estheticians do not offer hair services unless they are dually licensed, it is important for estheticians to also pay attention to the client's scalp during facial or hair removal services. Scalp melanomas are more lethal than other melanomas. One nationwide study found that people with scalp and neck melanomas die from the disease at nearly twice the rate of people with melanomas elsewhere on the body.¹ In fact, although only six percent of patients have skin lesions on the scalp and neck, they account for 10 percent of all melanoma deaths.² Scalp melanomas may be deemed more lethal due to a delay in diagnosis because of their location in an area usually hidden by hair, where one cannot see them without some effort. Be aware that the scalp is a well-vascularized area with numerous blood vessels, and the lymphatic drainage in this area is varied and complex. It may be that melanoma in this location can easily spread to the brain, making it more aggressive.³ Melanoma is common even among those younger than 30.