New phone app analyses photos of moles, freckles and gives a risk rating for melanoma

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Tuesday 17 Nov 2015 - 15:57 Makkah mean time-5-2-1437 Sydney, (IINA) - A new app has taken the guesswork out of finding a diagnosis by providing a 'risk rating' for skin cancer that claims to be 83 percent accurate, Mail Online news reported. The app SkinVision uses photos of a person's moles taken on their smartphone to assess the risk of melanoma or skin cancer in a bid to increase early detection. The app uses an algorithm to analysis the lesion based on fractal geometry. The app provides a ‘risk rating’ and recommendation for the mole, with the photo and subsequent analysis to be shared with a person’s doctor. SkinVision CEO Dick Uyttewaal said while the app was no substitute for seeing a medical professional it allowed users to keep track of their skin in between appointments. ‘Regularly checking moles or lesions can assist with early detection and prevention of melanoma and skin cancer,’ he said. ‘The app isn’t designed to replace a medical expert’s opinion, but instead, to provide a tool for analyzing and tracking moles in between professional check-ups, and helping people prepare for medical appointments with their own personal image gallery.’ The app allows users to detect potentially cancerous moles early on, increasing their chances of successful treatment.  New research from the Cancer Council has revealed half of adult sunburns are due to recreational activities that take place at the home such as gardening, reading, or chores around the house. Picnics and barbecues are also sunburn hot-spots, with beach and pool days ranking lower on the list of danger zones. Water activities are the cause of 29 percent of adult sunburns, while sport an exercise accounts for 21 percent. Chair of Cancer Council Australia's Public Health Committee (CCAPHC), Craig Sinclair said he believed a lot of people would be 'surprised' by the results. 'These 'incidental' sunburns are catching people out,' he said. 'After decades of sun protection messages targeting the bronzed Aussie, just 11 percent of adults are actively trying to get a tan.' It is noteworthy that the Cancer Council's National Skin Cancer week runs from November 15-21 2015 and SkinVision is offering Australians a free years’ subscription to the app if they download it during the week, which usually costs $38. SM/IINA