Skin Cancer Screenings: Do You Think All Estheticians Should Get A Yearly Screening?

As an esthetician, and as a person who is an advocate for skin care health I absolutely believe that all estheticians should have skin cancer screenings. In fact, I believe every one should have at least a base line screening to chart and have a body map record of the shapes, sizes and colors of moles on the body. Many dermatologists will also take pictures of each mole so should a mole look suspicious or change they have both measurements and pictures to compare it with. It is an extra precautionary step. The thing about skin cancer is that if caught early it is highly treatable and more likely curable than other forms of cancer.

As an esthetician, I think it is of greater importance that you take the health of your skin seriously and get regular skin care screenings. How often? It depends on your personal situation, but some dermatologists recommend that a person as young the teenage years get a baseline, and then every year or every couple years depending on your personal circumstances. Estheticians are skin care advocates, and part of that advocacy should be more than just the beauty and pampering side of skin care, but the true health of our skin. Without the health and integrity of the skin and body, beauty and pampering are useless.

I've spoken with a couple of estheticians who do not have health insurance and it is difficult to get skin cancer screenings because of the cost. I completely understand their dilemma, especially in this field where many spas do not offer benefits. There are some places that offer free or reduced rates on skin cancer screening, I will list below. Remember, skin cancer is a highly treatable and likely curable cancer if caught EARLY! Before you can take care of your clients, you need to take care of yourself first. See my upcoming blog on my own personal experience of a skin cancer screeing with biopsy! I am including my own pictures that I documented during my experience.

Free or Reduced Skin Cancer Screenings
American Academy of Dermatology-www.aad.org
Local hospitals in your area-call and check or call a local dermatologist

Grace Riley author of JumpStart Your Esthetics Career: A Guide For Newly Licensed Estheticians