Genomics testing company DermTech has found that most consumers have not had a full skin exam to check for potential skin cancers in the past 12 months.
That’s according to a new survey of more than 500 consumers, which found that almost three-fourths of respondents (74.2%) have failed to get a full skin exam in the past year. Nearly half (48.9%) of survey respondents said that they have, or think they may have, new or changing moles, a potential sign of skin cancer.
DermTech, which markets a noninvasive melanoma skin cancer test, is running the survey results as part of its #Stickit2Melanoma campaign, which falls during Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month this May.
This is the third iteration of its campaign that aims to raise awareness of melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer.
It also will help boost use of diagnostics for melanoma, such as its approved Smart Sticker tech, which works by lifting skin cells off the surface of a mole and then testing for any cancers, removing the need for a scalpel.
DermTech said it will be handing out so-called pledge stickers to doctors’ offices in the U.S. for patients to make a pledge to get checked and will also be giving out UV bracelets that change color if they deem the wearer has spent too long in the sun.
“Too many people are not scheduling skin exams, despite the fact that early melanoma detection is key for positive treatment outcomes,” said Todd Wood, chief commercial officer of DermTech, in a press release.
“With this top-of-mind, we’re proud to launch our third annual #Stickit2Melanoma campaign and continue to raise awareness of the dangers of melanoma, a potentially life-threatening disease, and encourage people to schedule skin exams with their doctors today.”
As part of the campaign, DermTech will also make a $5 donation to its nonprofit partner organizations for every #Stickit2Melanoma pledge. The company has pledged to donate up to $1 million through 2025.
This is DermTech’s second survey campaign project over the past month. The company released a survey last month of 2,000 people, split evenly between millennials, aged 26 to 41, and Generation Xers, aged 42 to 57, that found nearly half regretted their exposure to the sun.
The findings from that survey form the basis for the "Sun Regrets" campaign, a push by DermTech to educate Americans on the risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer and potentially turn them onto its DNA test in the process.