But I wasnt really fazed by it, Longendyke, now 31, recalls. I assumed it would clear up.

When she got her hair cut in January 2014, her hairdresser, Molly Louismet, noticed the silver-dollar-size lesion right away. I asked, Did you hurt yourself? says Louismet. Her client explained that the mark appeared out of nowhere, had been there for a few weeks, and wasnt healing. The last set off alarm bells for Louismet. Even though she wasnt sure what the patch was, she advised Longendyke to make a derm appointment stat, just in case.

Longendyke was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.

Its a dang good thing she did: Longendyke was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. If caught early, basal cell is very treatable. In Longendykes case, that meant undergoing an outpatient surgical procedure to remove it.

Scalp cancers can be quite serious, though: Melanoma on the scalp typically has a worse prognosis than on other parts of the body, several studies have found. Part of that is due to its typically late diagnosis, but melanomas on the scalp may also just be more aggressive.

For Longendyke, whos been in the clear for six years, her only souvenir of the ordeal is a small bald spot tucked under the rest of her hair. She credits Louismet with giving her the push she needed to see a doctor about it. Molly and I have a wonderful relationship, and her suggestion helped break the seal to schedule that dermatologist appointment.

Seeing Spots

Longendykes story isnt as uncommon as you may think. More than half of the hairstylists who participated in a study last year in Atlanta said they had referred a client to a derm for a suspect mole, per the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. It makes total sense: Beauticians you see every few months are more intimately familiar with your skin (especially areas you cant peep without the help of a mirror or yogi-master-level contortion) than someone you go to once a year.

Education For All

Sure, if you scan a beauty-school curriculum, you likely wont find a class called How to Spot Cancer 101. But a number of programs, sponsored by orgs like the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons, have popped up to train stylists (and in many cases, manicurists, facialists, and massage therapists too) on skin-cancer warning signs. A lot of hairdressers have been in a position where they found something but didnt know if they should say something, says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New Yorks Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center.

You dont have to sit back and wait for your stylist to take the lead, thoughask her outright to do some surveillance for you. It doesnt have to be awkward: Just casually tell your stylist, If you see something on my scalp, please let me know, says board-certified dermatologist Antoanella Calame, MD, owner of the online training program Eyes on Cancer (which Louismet signed up for at the recommendation of her salon owner after she helped discover Longendykes carcinoma).

The best time to have your stylist take a closer look is when your hair is wet, adds Calame, since wet hair is easier to part and puts more of your skin on display.

Since receiving her certification in 2018, Louismet has raised concerns with three clientsone of whom had coincidentally just returned from the dermatologist for treatment of the very mole Louismet noticed. (Good job, girl!) The course left her feeling better informed and even more empowered to be on the lookout. I want to know what Im looking for on their neck, scalp, and ears, she says. There are so many opportunities to help your clients beyond just their hair.

Doctors Orders

Even with a formal certification, its important to keep in mind that stylists can only flag suspicious spotsthey cant (and shouldnt) play doctor. If the hairdresser sees anything theyre questioning, then its best to speak to a board-certified dermatologist and have them evaluate the spot, says Dr. Garshick. Sometimes theyll choose to monitor it, or theyll take a little sample of it to test just to make sure everything is okay.

For Longendyke, who continues to get her hair cut by Louismet, the stylists willingness to see something and say something was transformative. I dont know where I would have ended up if she hadnt pushed me to get it checked. Talk about a life-changing haircut.

Extra Set Of Eyes

So your go-to stylist hasnt been certified through a cancer-detection program. No sweat. She can still help you keep your scalp healthy by watching for the melanoma ABCDEs (and you could use a refresher too, huh?). If youve got a spot with any of these characteristics, youll want to see a derm right away, because early detection is everything.

• ASYMMETRY: The two halves of the mole dont look the same.
• BORDER: The area has jagged or uneven sides.
• COLOR: The spot has multiplehues (tan, dark brown, or even purple or red).
• DIAMETER: Its larger than a pencil eraser(about 14 inch across).
• EVOLVING: The area has grown or changed color, o r is crusty or bleeding.

This article appears in the May 2020 issue of Womens Health, available April 21. Subscribe now .