Utilization rates of dermatologist-created skin cancer screening certification services by nail technicians

Introduction: Nail technicians may serve as a valuable tool in the early detection of skin cancer through their high exposure to the nails, hands, and feet. Despite the availability of dermatologist-created platforms that offer certification in skin cancer screening, it is unclear if these resources are being utilized by nail technicians. We conducted a pilot study to assess nail technician certification status, awareness, and interest in these programs.

Methods: Nail technicians from nail salons corresponding to zipcodesof interest in the Milwaukee area were asked to complete a questionnaire about comfort identifying skin lesions, awareness of certification resources, and certification status. Survey responses were analyzed via frequency reporting and Likert scoring for applicable questions.

Results: 35 technicians responded to the survey, with most identifying as Asian (57.1%). Technicians reported the most exposure to clients' arms/hands/palms (97.1%) and legs/feet/soles (80.0%). 71.4% (n = 25) of nail technicians reported ever experiencing concerns about a client's skin, yet only 8.6% (n = 3) were certified in melanoma screening. Over half of nail technicians reported interest in learning more about certification opportunities.

Discussion: Skin cancer screening certification is underutilized among nail technicians, despite interest in obtaining certification. Barriers to certification may include lack of awareness, cost, and limited training access, with most certified technicians learning about opportunities through cosmetology schools. These schools may be key in promoting skin cancer certification among nail technicians.