A Scary Threat to Women’s Health

Despite increased awareness of the dangers of tanning bed use and the importance of wearing sunscreen, a new study found that skin cancer is on the rise for women.

Experts from the Mayo Clinic studied people from 1970 to 2009, and discovered that the rate of melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) increased eightfold among women, especially among those in their 20s and 30s.

One piece of good news from the study: Researchers found that less people are dying of melanoma, likely due to early interventions from regular visits to the dermatologist and keeping an eye on mole growth.

The study didn’t evaluate the reason for the dramatic increase, but researchers are pointing the finger at indoor tanning. Studies have show that people who use tanning beds are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma than non-tanners.

How can you stay safe? Avoid tanning beds, wear sunscreen, and limit your exposure to the sun. You should also check your moles for the ABCDEs (asymmetry, a border that is irregular, colors that are different in the mole, a diameter bigger than a pencil eraser, and elevation of the mole).

Click here for more information on Cosmo's Practice Safe Sun campaign.

From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Amazon Beauty Center here

Another New Threat to Birth Control

February 24, 2012 at 3:12PM By Korin Miller |

By now, you’re probably already heard about the ongoing battle over birth control. If not, a quick recap: The Obama administration ruled back in August that insurance companies would be required to cover birth control costs with no co-pay to users. Some Catholic organizations have pushed back. As a result, the government has given them more time to comply with the new rules, but they still haven’t come to an agreement with Catholic bishops.

Now, women’s health is coming under fire again: A federal judge in Washington state just ruled that pharmacists who disagree with emergency contraception for religious reasons will no longer be required to dispense it. That means women in Washington could have trouble accessing Plan B when they need it most.  

If you don’t live in Washington, you may think this doesn’t affect you. But it could if your state chooses to follow suit—which is entirely possible. Last year, a judge in Illinois handed down a similar ruling, which means this is a growing trend.

Want to keep tabs on your state? Click here to check out the Guttmacher Institute’s state center—it breaks down women’s health issues by state.

From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Amazon Beauty Center here