Assessing beauticians’ knowledge of cutaneous melanoma and willingness to contribute to melanoma surveillance practices on the general population

Melanoma it is the most aggressive skin cancer, with a high mortality rate. Delayed diagnosis contributes to the poor prognosis. Early detection is the best approach to improve the outcome in melanoma patients. Beauticians observe a great extent of the skin of their clients, and therefore have remarkable access for detecting melanocytic lesions. Moreover, beauticians are used to be in contact with their clients, especially women, more often than dermatologists or family physicians. This study aimed to investigate melanoma knowledge, surveillance practices, and attitudes among beauticians in the metropolitan Rome area, and to raise awareness to the potential role of beauticians in early detection and referral of cutaneous melanoma.