Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer. Fortunately, your hairdresser can learn to identify it early by using the simple acronym ABCDE. Many hair salons are referring patients to dermatologists as they find abnormalities on their client’s scalps.

You may think of your hairdresser as just the solution for another bad hair day, but did you know they could actually save your life?

That’s right, one dermatologist in California noticed a curious trend. Patients were coming in day after day with the same concerns of potentially cancerous skin abnormalities. And they all had one thing in common: they were referred by their hairdressers.

How Hairdressers Can Spot Melanoma

With a unique vantage point, your hairdresser gets a look at an area of your body that nobody ever looks at — that is, your scalp. And they’re good at it. In a research study pioneered by that same doctor, 100 hairdressers were asked to identify melanoma on the head. 59% of them were able to accurately point out suspicious lesions. And after watching a short training video, their accuracy went up to an impressive 71%!

In fact, you’d be surprised just how frequently salon workers come across suspicious moles on a client’s scalp. One study uncovered that 58% of surveyed salon workers in the Houston, Texas area had referred their patients to a dermatologist for just that reason.

Share the ABCDE’s of Melanoma Detection

So, they may be great with scissors, but how sharp is your hairdresser at spotting cancer? Next time you go in for a cut and color, share this easy acronym with them: ABCDE. It’s the calling card of melanoma.

Here’s what each letter in ABCDE stands for. . .

1. Asymmetrical
2. Borders are irregular
3. More than one color
4. Diameter greater than 6mm
5. Elevated (raised bump)

Just by mentioning the secret superpower of being able to identify cancer, and by sharing this acronym, you’ll help to boost your hairdresser’s confidence and alertness. Voila! You’ve just had a hand in saving lives, one scalp at a time.

Hey, not all heroes wear capes. In fact, often they’re the ones putting the cape on you. ;-)