SPOT THE DIFFERENCE with Dr Franz Strydom & the Skinspots team

Doctors spend a long time at university, and we all expect that this training is sufficient to do a proper job. Medical students receive between two hours on two days of skin cancer training in their study career. Most of their curriculum was designed before the advent of routine use of a dermatoscope – the magnifying light used for examining of skin cancer.

Very few health professionals, including specialists, have undergone formal training in the use of a dermatoscope. If they did, they could increase their ability to pick up cancers by at least 30 per cent. More importantly, they'd be able to diagnose cancers earlier when malignancies are still treatable.

At Skinspots we have invested heavily in training health professionals. There are six doctors and four nurses who hold a certificate in dermoscopy, diploma in dermoscopy or higher qualification. The nurses undergo the same training and exams as doctors do. The training is tough and followed by working with more experienced colleagues until each person is qualified and experienced enough to undertake individual skin checks for patients.

This service is audited and accredited by the Skin Cancer College of Australasia. We function closely as a team and this means that second opinions, if needed, could be asked for during the same consult. We aim to bring you the highest standard skin cancer checks possible.