Modern Salon
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Warn your salon clients about skin cancer

Whether you're a hairdresser, esthetician or massage tech, you may be a client's first eye on a serious problem. One salon is making sure its staff knows how to spot skin cancer.

July 10, 2011
2 min to read


Warn your salon clients about skin cancer


"You see some clients every month or every few months for most of their lives," a cancer specialist recently told the staff at The Loft Hair Design and Skin Care in Escondido, California. "If you observe that they continue to have a sore, or you notice that a mole looks asymmetrical, suggest that they get it looked at, even if you think it's probably benign."

The advice was part of a presentation that The Loft owner Shawna Cruise arranged. Cruise invited Kay Kimball, RN, an oncology nurse at Palomar Pomerado Health, to educate The Loft's team about the dangers of chronic sun exposure, the importance of protecting the skin from harmful UVB and UVA rays and the signs of skin cancer on their clients.

Ad Loading...

look for the signs

While curable when caught early, the 62,000 melanomas and one million cases of non-melanoma skin cancers diagnosed each year can turn deadly when left untreated. Kimball explained that chronic sun exposure is a big risk factor, with fair-complexioned people at particular risk.

The scalp, ears, face and neck are typical areas for non-melanoma cancers to appear, according to Kimball. "A growth that crusts and occasionally bleeds or an open sore that doesn't heal could be a typical symptom of a non-melanoma skin cancer," she explained.

tell your clients

Sunblock is effective when it protects against both UV rays and UVB rays and contains at least a 30 SPF, Kimball continued. She advised cosmetologists to recommend sunblock products to protect clients not only against skin cancer but against premature aging as well.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Career

Ad Loading...
Michelle Bowden works on a hair piece on a mannequin
Career|Articles|Apr 15, 2026

How Michelle Bowden Had a Breakout Year (and How Other Stylists Can, Too)

From working backstage at multiple Paris Fashion Week shows to collaborating on four creative collections and expanding her international stage work, Michelle Bowden has had an incredible year of growth. Here, we break down her approach that drove her momentum, offering a framework for stylists looking to elevate their own careers.

Ad Loading...
Career|Articles|Jan 9, 2026

Beautiful Careers Happen Here

Ulta Beauty is always innovating to meet professionals where they are. Amazing transformations happened at The Salon at Ulta Beauty in 2025, and Ulta Beauty artistry and education will be everywhere you want to go in the year ahead. Come see all The Salon at Ulta Beauty has planned for you in 2026!

Sponsored by Ulta Beauty

Ad Loading...