New guidance for beauty and wellbeing professionals

 

Ministers and celebrities are backing a campaign launched today by the Melanoma Taskforce and British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) to help well-being, hair and beauty professionals to spot the signs of skin cancer in their clients.

The guidance, Information on the signs of skin cancer for well-being, hair and beauty professionals, can be downlaoded and printed free of charge here.

Skin cancer kills more than 2,500 people in the UK every year and its most deadly form, malignant melanoma, is now the second most common cancer among young people in the UK. In an effort to improve awareness and early detection of the disease, the Taskforce and BAD have produced ‘Mole and Skin Check Guidelines’ to educate hairdressers, masseurs, therapists and other well-being professionals to spot the signs of skin cancer. The campaign has support from a number of high-profile celebrities and industry leaders including actress and presenter, Amanda Holden, Hollyoaks star, Gemma Merna, TV & radio presenter Sarah Cawood and celebrity make-up artists, Ruby and Millie.

The guidelines will be officially launched in Parliament on Tuesday 21st June with the backing of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Anne Milton MP, who is expected to emphasise the crucial role that professionals within these industries can play in facilitating the early detection of skin cancer.

It is vital that skin cancers are detected and treated early as swift diagnosis can help save lives. While professionals in the well-being, hair and beauty industries are not expected to diagnose skin cancers, they are uniquely placed to be able to notice changes in moles or suspicious lesions. Endorsed by nine leading industry bodies, the guidelines will provide clear and simple information on how to spot the signs of skin cancer, and how professionals can encourage their clients to seek medical advice.

The guidelines were developed as a result of recommendations made to Government by the Melanoma Taskforce in its ‘2015 Skin Cancer Visions’ report and are supported by research carried out by Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust, which shows that over 80% of hairdressers and around 95% of beauty therapists would like to know more about how to recognise the signs of skin cancer.

• The Melanoma Taskforce is a panel of skin cancer experts brought together by Siân James MP, to look at how the prevention and treatment of skin cancer, and in particular melanoma, can be improved. The cost of administration of the Taskforce is funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb who hold no editorial control over the work of the group.

The Taskforce is comprised of the following organisations:

British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
British Dermatological Nursing Group
Cancer Research UK
Factor 50
Teenage Cancer Trust
Skcin (The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity)
Skin Care Campaign
Primary Care Dermatology Society
 

• For more information on the Melanoma Taskforce and a full list of members, please contact Emily Secker in the office of Siân James MP at emily.secker@parliament.uk

• The Melanoma Taskforce and the British Association of Dermatologists are delighted to have the support of nine leading industry bodies in the development and distribution of these guidelines. The endorsing organisations are: the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology; the British Association of Skin Camouflage; the British Barbers’ Association; the Federation of Holistic Therapists; the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority; the National Association of Screen Makeup Artists and Hairdressers; the Safe Beauty Association; SkillsActive; and the Hairdressing Council.

• ‘The Mole and Skin Check Guidelines for Well-being, Hair and Beauty Professionals’ are the product of one of the 20 recommendations made by the Melanoma Taskforce to Government in its ‘2015 Skin Cancer Visions’ report, published in October 2010. The recommendation called for: “Clear and targeted information for professionals that come into contact with people’s skin, including pharmacists, hairdressers, physiotherapists and swimming instructors

• Over 40,000 copies of the guidelines will be distributed to hairdressers, barbers, beauty therapists, make-up artists, massage therapists and other professionals in the well-being industry over the coming weeks. The leaflet will also be available to download via the BAD website.