Professional hair stylist shave not only skilled, organize and blow hair only. Hair stylists can also serve as the front line of defense against skin cancer by examining the head of the customer if any suspicious spots that may not be known.
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health gave a question to about 200 people a professional hair stylist in the Houston area related to their observations and recommendations regarding skin cancer.
Researchers found that about 40 percent of respondents said that they would see at least half of the scalp customer if there are spots and suspicious abnormalities. Almost 70 percent of them said that chances are they will provide to its customers that the cancer pamphlets.
"People often visit a professional hair stylist. This puts a hairdresser in a unique position to detect skin cancer in the neck, head, and scalp, an area that is sometimes overlooked by routine examination," said Allan Geller, MPH, one of the authors the study.
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and the number of cases is almost half of the total number of cancers in the U.S.. Between 1973 and 2003, the number of cases of head and neck skin cancer there is as much as 6 percent of all skin cancer cases and 10 percent of all skin cancer deaths in the U.S..
A study published in Archives of Dermatology found that many professional hair stylists have extensive knowledge about skin cancer issues, such as finding the spots that changed in size or gradually bleed. Nearly half of them are deeply interested to participate in skin cancer education programs.
According to Geller, the researchers are looking for a pilot program that will help the hair stylist professionals become the first line of defense against skin cancer.
He said the program focuses not only on the lookout for possible signs of skin cancer, but also how to make customers aware of the potential concerns in a way encouraged to seek medical help without fear.
"I often tell patients that the hair stylist check their scalp. I think it should be part of cosmetology training, and I believe they can do more than that now," said Dr. Carolyn Jacob, director of Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology and interpreter talk to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Dr. Andrew Alexis, director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital and AAD spokesman, said that he did not see this as a trend, but rather as a phenomenon of hairdressers who are willing and able to see certain diseases of the scalp is missed by doctors.
He said many patients who come to him after being told by hair stylists to see a dermatologist, either because certain types of hair loss, freckles, or a number of skin inflammation.
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