By Bridgette Meinhold, Source: Ecouterre

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When you think your mole has grown or a spot emerges on your skin, it’s best to get into your doctor right away to get it checked out. But getting an appointment that isn’t 6 months out with your dermatologist can be tricky. Researchers in Queensland are now testing out a new mobile body scanner that works with your iphone that could revolutionize skin cancer detection. The Handyscope is the world’s first mobile connected dermatologist. You simply take a picture of your questionable spots, tell the app where it is on your body and it sends it to your doctor to give it a look over. The scanner reduces scheduling and doctor visits while it enhances early detection.
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is a slide-on attachment for your iphone 5 that has a specialty camera with a polarized light and magnification to take close-up and super clear images of skin lesions. The attachment works in conjunction with a mobile app that helps the user take a good image. Dr Monika Janda, senior research from the QUT, explains that the Handyscope, “automatically gets people to hold the iPhone at the right distance to take a clear photo, it has polarised light that goes deeper into the skin to show lesions clearer, and it has a 20x magnification capacity. Then it has an app attached to it, that allows people to mark on a virtual body where the legion is, and they can send it straight back to a health professional for quick feedback.”

This device is great for those recovering from skin cancer who have to see their doctor on a regular basis. Patients with devices can keep track of their lesions and monitor changes easily and share the images with their doctor all without having to come in for an appointment. If the doctor has any concern with a spot, they can then easily schedule a follow up appointment. Currently, researchers in Queensland are running trial tests with patients who will use the Handyscope at home. Although the device is not yet available for consumers, it could revolutionize how we get checked for skin cancer and even help detect it sooner.