Growing numbers of High Street clinics offering skin cancer checks need tougher standards, experts said today.
The clinics use the latest scanning techniques to check moles and identify possible cancers.
But a new analysis says they cannot yet replace a proper examination by a specialist.
And it calls for better training of staff in the clinics.
According to the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, even NHS dermatology services are setting up private clinics to raise money.
Bulletin editor Dr Ike Iheanacho calls for proper evaluation of the new scanning techniques and clinic services.
He calls on the NHS not to support the clinics without evidence.
He writes: “Independent providers of clinics offering these methods should be required to publish outcome data and be part of clinical governance frameworks linked to specialist dermatology teams.”
* A second study in the same journal questions the value of a testosterone patch, intended to boost female sexuality after womb and ovary removal.
The patch has been licensed in Britain for women who have undergone early menopause following surgical procedures.
The journal says studies of the patch have shown “small” improvements and used tests of highly selective groups of women. There were also side-effects such as hair growth and voice deepening.
DTB Vol 47: No 3: March 2009
Leave a Reply