Barbers could soon become frontline allies in the fight against skin cancer, as new research from the University of Portsmouth reveals that many are willing to talk to their clients about sun protection during haircuts.
The study, led by researcher Helen Fleming, found that more than half of barbers surveyed in Portsmouth are open to discussing sun safety with customers. Fleming describes the barbering trade as “an untapped public health resource,” arguing that the everyday trust between barbers and their clients could be used to push life-saving health messages.
To back up the research, the university has given out 1,000 free bottles of sunscreen to barbershops across Portsmouth.
The city, according to the study, records melanoma cases 35 percent higher than the England average. Globally, Cancer Research UK says one in every 35 men in the UK will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer at some point in their lives.
“Most skin cancers are preventable, yet many men continue to underestimate the risks of sun exposure, particularly in the UK climate,” Fleming said.
She explained that barbers are uniquely positioned because they regularly examine areas like the head and neck — spots customers themselves often cannot properly check. “Small interventions in trusted community settings could help reduce future skin cancer risk and ease pressure on NHS services,” she added.
Fleming is now calling for a national skin cancer prevention strategy that goes beyond treatment to focus more on education and early detection, with barbers playing a frontline role in reaching men who rarely respond to regular health campaigns.
Gareth Penn of the Hair and Barbering Council backed the idea, saying barbers are “absolutely perfectly placed” to spot warning signs and direct clients to seek medical checks. He revealed the council already partners with a charity, Skcin, to train barbers on recognising melanoma symptoms.
“It saves lives,” Penn said. “What harm can it be to just create some awareness?”
Harry Phelan, who owns Studio H barbershop, said his conversations with the research team gave him the confidence to start talking about skin cancer openly with his clients.
One of his customers, 68-year-old Stuart Granger, welcomed the move while getting his hair cut, admitting that skin cancer was never something he thought about when he was younger.
Why It Matters
This research shines light on a health risk many men ignore until it is too late. Skin cancer, particularly melanoma, often goes undetected because men rarely check their own scalp, neck, or back, areas barbers see up close every day.
By training barbers to spot unusual moles or skin changes and encouraging simple conversations about sun protection, public health campaigns can reach men who would otherwise avoid hospitals or routine check-ups until symptoms become serious.
In a country like Nigeria, where skin cancer awareness is generally low and many believe dark skin offers full protection from sun damage this approach offers a useful lesson. Local barbershops, popular as social hubs for Nigerian men, could similarly become spaces for raising awareness about not just skin cancer, but other preventable health conditions like hypertension and prostate issues.