Future research Skin Cancer

The majority of studies predict that over the next few years we will see an increase in the number of cases of skin cancer. In this respect, we must take steps towards an early diagnosis and insist in the importance of preventive factors. To this end, it is essential that we:

• Improve the primary preventive measures regarding skin protection.
• Increase public awareness about skin care and visiting the doctor at the first sign of a skin lesion.
• Promote the education of other professionals (showing nursing staff and doctors who aren’t dermatologists how to detect suspicious moles on the skin ) and patients. These professionals should know how to examine a mole  with a dermoscope. 
• Perfect diagnostic methods, such as dermoscopy or confocal microscopy, so that tumours could be detected in very early stages with more accuracy.
• Personalise skin cancer treatment to reduce toxicity and explore new surgical techniques , such as immunotherapy or biological therapies. 
• Implement new technologies. Teledermatology means suspicious moles  can be examined quickly and, if necessary, referred to a specialist to receive early treatment. In addition, there are some very accurate programs available in app format that detect whether suspicious skin lesions are possible tumours.