Boosting Skin Cancer Awareness: Lessons from Italy’s “Save Your Skin” Campaign
A recent Italian nationwide campaign, “Save Your Skin,” highlighted both successes and challenges in skin cancer awareness and prevention. Over 1,700 participants, most of whom were women with an average age of 36, received free skin checks and filled out surveys about sun habits and skin cancer knowledge. While most people joined the campaign for preventive reasons, there was widespread confusion about the differences between benign moles and dangerous melanomas. Alarmingly, many participants showed risky sun behaviors, like using tanning beds and improper sunscreen use, even though they believed they were protecting themselves. Older adults, while better at using hats and seeking shade, were less likely to use sunscreen properly. The study stressed the need for better education on skin protection, clearer sunscreen instructions, and efforts to reach more vulnerable groups, like lower-income and immigrant populations, who were underrepresented in the campaign. These insights emphasize that protecting your skin goes beyond occasional sunscreen—ongoing education and targeted outreach are critical to reducing skin cancer risk.
Skin cancer prevention isn’t just about sunscreen—it’s about learning the facts and helping everyone stay informed.
Citation:
Savoia P, Gironi LC, Airoldi C, et al. Enhancing Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in the Italian Population: Insights from the “Save Your Skin” Screening Campaign. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2025;15(2):5350. doi:10.5826/dpc.152a5350. Available at: https://dpcj.org/index.php/dpc/onlinefirst/view/5350
How Mindset Affects Depression in Women with Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia (vul-voh-DIN-ee-uh) is a long-term condition that causes pain in the area around the opening of the vagina, called the vulva. It affects about 1 in 10 women and can make everyday life, relationships, and mental health harder. A recent study looked at how the way women think about their illness affects how depressed they feel. Women who believed their pain was too much to handle and couldn’t be controlled often felt worse emotionally. On the other hand, women who accepted their condition and didn’t let it take over their thoughts felt less depressed. Even when the pain was strong, thinking in a more hopeful way and using healthy ways to cope made a big difference. This means that helping women change how they view vulvodynia and teaching them ways to accept it might help just as much as treating the pain itself. Treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (a type of talk therapy that helps people change unhelpful thoughts) and acceptance-based therapy (which teaches people how to live with difficult feelings) could really improve mental health.
The way women think about their pain can have a big effect on how much depression they experience.
Citation:
Spinoni, M., Cucurachi, G., Porpora, M. G., & Grano, C. (2025). Exploring pain perception and depression in vulvodynia: the role of catastrophizing and pain acceptance. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2025, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdaf046
Life Satisfaction Can Help Protect Against Frailty in Older Adults
Maintaining a high level of life satisfaction may significantly reduce the risk of becoming frail later in life. A recent study involving adults aged 60 and older in Japan found that those reporting greater satisfaction in areas such as health, relationships, community, and social roles were less likely to experience frailty—a condition characterized by reduced physical and mental resilience. Participants who expressed higher life satisfaction had about half the risk of developing frailty compared to those with lower satisfaction levels. Notably, positive relationships with neighbors appeared particularly beneficial. The findings emphasize the importance of nurturing mental well-being and community connections as part of healthy aging strategies. Promoting life satisfaction through social support, regular physical activity, and positive community engagement may therefore serve as a valuable preventive measure against frailty for older women and men alike.
Older adults who feel satisfied with life are less likely to face serious physical and mental decline.
Citation:
Fujii, K., Harada, K., Kurita, S., Morikawa, M., Nishijima, C., Kakita, D., & Shimada, H. (2025). Life satisfaction as a protective factor against frailty among Japanese adults aged 60 and older: A cohort study. Maturitas, 197, Article 108256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2025.108256
Do Female Genital Cosmetic Procedures Improve Sexual Function and Genital Self-Image?
More women are choosing female genital cosmetic procedures—like labiaplasty (surgery to change the size or shape of the inner lips of the vagina) and vaginal tightening (surgery to make the vaginal area feel tighter)—to try to improve how their genitals look and to feel better during sex. But a recent study compared women who had these surgeries with those who didn’t and found no major differences in sexual pleasure or how women felt about their genitals. Women who chose surgery were usually older, had less education and income, and had gone through more pregnancies and vaginal births. This shows that many are motivated by changes related to aging and childbirth. Most women learned about these surgeries from doctors and midwives, so it’s important they get clear, honest information. The study shows that these surgeries may not boost sexual satisfaction or confidence as much as some women expect, so it’s important to talk openly about what’s normal and what these surgeries can really do.
These surgeries may not improve sex or self-confidence, so learning the facts is key before deciding.
Citation:
Sasanfar, T., Maasoumi, R., Ataei, M., Haghani, S., & Nekoolaltak, M. (2024). Comparative Investigation of Genital Self-image and Sexual Function in Women with and Without a History of Female Genital Cosmetic Procedures: A Cross-sectional Study. International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery, 12(2), 121-134. https://doi.org/10.30476/IJCBNM.2024.101051.2399
How Effective are Endometriosis Mobile Apps for Patient Support?
Many women are using mobile apps to help manage endometriosis (a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, often causing pain and other health problems). A recent study looked at how helpful these apps really are. Researchers reviewed apps in the Apple App Store and found that only two—LUNA-endometriosis and Frendo—had good, science-based information and useful tools to help with diagnosis. Most of the other apps didn’t offer solid medical advice and focused too much on tracking symptoms or using alternative treatments without real help for managing the condition. Also, very few apps made it easy for users to share their health information safely with their doctors, which limits how helpful they are during medical visits. This shows that better apps are needed, with doctors involved in creating them, so women can get the support they need.
Only a few endometriosis apps offer real medical help, showing the need for better tools built with doctors’ guidance.
Citation:
Tjandraprawira, K. D., Armawan, E., Aziz, M. A., & Djuwantono, T. (2025). A Study on the Quality of Patient-Centred Endometriosis Mobile Applications: Analysis and Future Prospects. Obstetrics and Gynecology International, 2025, Article ID 5582127. https://doi.org/10.1155/ogi/5582127
Navigating Breastfeeding Challenges for Mothers of Preterm Babies
Breastfeeding is very good for babies, especially those born preterm (meaning they were born too early), but it can be hard for many moms to keep going with it. A recent study in China looked at what makes breastfeeding tough for moms with preterm babies. Many moms felt very tired, worried about their babies’ health, and said they didn’t make enough milk. In hospitals, there often wasn’t enough help or clear instructions on how to breastfeed, and there weren’t always places to safely store pumped milk. While family members usually tried to help, they sometimes gave advice that caused moms to stop breastfeeding sooner than they wanted to. Moms also said they didn’t have enough support in public places, at work, or in their communities to make breastfeeding easier. The study shows that moms need help from doctors, family, workplaces, and the community to feel supported and keep breastfeeding longer.
Moms of preterm babies need strong support from all sides to continue breastfeeding successfully.
Citation:
Chen, L., Shang, Y., Tian, X., Huang, Y., Sun, Y., Fu, C., Bai, J., & Liu, Y. (2025). The struggles of breastfeeding mothers of preterm infants: A qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 25(472). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07597-x
Vitamin D’s Impact on Cognitive Health and Mood in Older Adults
New research shows that getting enough vitamin D—a nutrient your body needs to keep bones strong, muscles working well, and the brain healthy—might also help older adults think more clearly and feel less sad or depressed. Vitamin D can come from sunlight, certain foods, or supplements. In this study, researchers looked at health data from over 1,300 older adults to see how much vitamin D they were getting through their diets. They found that people who ate more vitamin D-rich foods scored better on memory tests and were able to speak and express their thoughts more easily. These same individuals also had fewer symptoms of depression. That means they were less likely to feel hopeless, very sad, or have serious thoughts about hurting themselves. The study also found an interesting twist: some people who had high levels of vitamin D reported more trouble sleeping. This means vitamin D affects people in different ways and reminds us that more isn’t always better. It’s important to get the right amount, not too little and not too much.
Getting the right amount of vitamin D from healthy foods may support better memory, mood, and brain health in older adults, though too much could affect sleep.
Citation:
Chen, H., Pang, X., & Huang, Y. (2025). Higher dietary vitamin D intake influences brain and mental function in elderly Americans: a cross-sectional analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, Article 1564568. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1564568
Understanding and Managing Menstrual Pain: New Guidelines for Women
Menstrual pain—also called primary dysmenorrhea (a medical term for painful periods without another health issue causing it)—is something many women go through, but it’s often not taken seriously or treated the right way. New health guidelines say that women shouldn’t just “tough it out” because ignoring this kind of pain can lead to worse problems later, including long-term pain that can make daily life harder. The good news is that there are safe and helpful ways to treat menstrual pain. Medicines like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—such as ibuprofen—and hormonal contraceptives (like birth control pills that also help with pain) can ease symptoms and don’t always require a pelvic exam or scans right away. Other helpful options include using heating pads, getting regular exercise, taking ginger supplements, or trying a therapy called high-frequency nerve stimulation (a way to block pain using gentle electrical signals). If the pain keeps coming back or doesn’t get better, it’s important to see a doctor to check for conditions like endometriosis (when tissue like the lining of the uterus grows where it shouldn’t). Talking openly with your doctor and finding the right treatment can really improve how you feel each month.
Period pain is common, but it shouldn’t be ignored—there are safe, effective ways to manage it and feel better.
Citation:
Burnett, M. (2025). Guideline No. 345: Primary Dysmenorrhea. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2025.102840
Understanding Adolescent Pregnancy: Key Factors and Health Risks
Teen pregnancy is a major health concern around the world, with about 18 out of every 100 pregnancies happening in girls under 20—especially in places with fewer resources. There are many reasons why teen pregnancies happen, such as not having access to good education, living in poverty, living in the countryside, getting married young, not using birth control, and sometimes facing abuse. Being pregnant at a young age can lead to serious health problems for both the mother and baby. These can include anemia (a condition where there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells), premature birth (when the baby is born too early), low birth weight (when the baby is smaller than normal), stillbirth (when the baby dies before or during birth), and preeclampsia (a dangerous condition with high blood pressure during pregnancy). The research shows that teen pregnancy is common in both poor and rich countries, and it affects families and communities in big ways. Experts say the best ways to help are by improving education, giving better access to birth control, and creating health services that meet the needs of young women. Communities, doctors, and government leaders all play an important role in helping reduce teen pregnancy and supporting young moms.
Teen pregnancy is a serious issue that needs strong support through education, healthcare, and community action.
Citation:
Abate, B. B., et al. (2025). Prevalence, determinants, and complications of adolescent pregnancy: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. AJOG Global Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xagr.2025.100441
Dance Your Way Through Menopause: A Natural Path to Physical and Emotional Wellness
Dancing can be a fun and helpful way for women to deal with the physical and emotional changes that come with perimenopause (the time before periods stop), menopause (when periods stop), and postmenopause (the time after periods have ended). A recent study that looked at many other studies found that dancing made a big difference in how women felt. It helped lower anxiety (feeling nervous or worried), depression (feeling very sad or hopeless), and low vitality (feeling tired or lacking energy). It also helped women feel better in their relationships. Different kinds of dancing—like Zumba, jazz, traditional cultural dances, and dance movement therapy (a type of guided dance used to improve mental and physical health)—not only boosted moods but also made bodies stronger. Women saw better muscle strength, balance, heart health, and body shape. The great news is that these benefits didn’t require dancing every day—just dancing a few times a week could help. Dancing is also a natural, medicine-free way to feel better, which makes it a great option for women who want to avoid taking medication.
Dancing just a few times a week can help women going through menopause feel better both physically and emotionally.
Citation:
Liao, D., Mo, L., & Chen, M. (2025). The Effectiveness of Dance Interventions on Health-Related Outcomes in Perimenopausal, Menopausal, and Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare, 13(8), 881. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13080881
