NEW mole-check iPhone apps are potential killers, according to one of Queensland's top cancer doctors.
At $2, MelApp is designed to risk-assess photographs of moles and help detect the likelihood of cancer. The $5.49 Skin Scan app, also developed overseas, claims to be the most accurate skin cancer detector on the iPhone.
And while the apps come with hefty warnings that they are not a substitute for expert examinations, Cancer Council Australia chief executive Professor Ian Olver fears they could wrongly reassure Queenslanders that dangerous moles are low-risk and delay "life-saving" medical checks.
"In reality, it is often difficult for a medical practitioner in a face-to-face consultation to diagnose certain cancers, so to do so from a photograph is unrealistic," Prof Olver said.
"There is no substitute for getting your skin checked by a professional.
If you are concerned enough to take a photograph of your mole on your phone then it's time to see the doctor."
The apps claim to detect melanoma at an early and likely curable stage using mathematical algorithms and image-based pattern-recognition technology.
Each year, about 133,000 Queenslanders are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer and more than 2600 with melanoma.
"Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world and while new technologies can be helpful in creating awareness and improving sun-smart behaviours, it's vital that people see their doctor about any changes in their skin," said Anne Savage, of the Cancer Council Queensland.
Technology is playing a role in the cancer council's SunSmart campaign, with a SunSmart app available free on Android and iPhone.
The makers of MelApp and Skin Scan could not be contacted for comment.
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