Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, with over 5 million cases treated annually. The majority of skin cancers — including the deadliest, melanoma — are preventable through sun protection behaviors and detectable at highly treatable stages through regular skin examinations. SMS programs designed to support these behaviors have shown promise in promoting sun safety, improving skin check attendance, and facilitating early detection.
Sun Safety Behavior Reminders
Research has examined SMS programs designed to improve sun protection behaviors — applying sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, and avoiding peak UV hours. Studies conducted in Australia (which has some of the world's highest melanoma rates) and the US have found that SMS reminders sent at relevant times — weekend mornings before outdoor activities, before forecasted high UV index days — significantly improve sunscreen application rates compared to control groups.
The timeliness of SMS is particularly valuable for sun protection: a reminder at 9 AM on a Saturday morning when someone is getting ready for an outdoor activity is far more likely to change behavior than a general education message delivered at an arbitrary time.
Skin Examination Reminders
Monthly self-examination of the skin — checking for new or changing moles using the ABCDE criteria (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolution) — is recommended for early melanoma detection. SMS reminders to perform monthly self-checks, with brief guidance on what to look for, have been used in melanoma awareness programs to improve self-examination frequency.
For high-risk patients — those with numerous atypical moles, family history of melanoma, or previous skin cancer — SMS reminders for annual or semi-annual dermatology appointments support the regular professional monitoring that can catch melanoma at its most treatable stage.
Post-Treatment Follow-Up
Patients treated for non-melanoma skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas) have elevated risk of additional skin cancers. SMS reminders for follow-up dermatology appointments in these patients can improve attendance at surveillance visits that catch recurrences and new cancers early — when treatment is most effective and least expensive.
Practical Applications for Healthcare Providers
Dermatology practices can implement SMS programs for appointment reminders, annual screening reminders for established patients, and post-procedure follow-up. Primary care practices that screen patients for atypical skin lesions can use SMS to send patients for dermatology referrals more urgently and track whether those referrals are completed. Public health programs can use SMS to deliver sun safety reminders around summer holidays and high-UV-index periods.
