Assisted Living and Senior Home Care

Caring for an elderly parent or loved one can become emotionally, mentally and physically draining. If the right resources are not accessed, caring for a senior citizen can also be expensive. However, there is help. Adult children, extended family members and other caregivers do not have to go it alone.

Senior Home Care Services

Senior Home Care Services

Local and national home care agencies will send therapists and other trained healthcare professionals into an elderly family member’s home. Services offered through home care agencies include:

  • Hygiene support (e.g. bathing, dressing)
  • Medicine administration
  • Wound cleaning and dressing
  • Physical therapy
  • Errand running (e.g. grocery shopping)
  • Light housecleaning
  • Meal preparation
  • Recreation

Beyond the above services that senior home care agencies provide, companionship is another key benefit that senior citizens receive from agency professionals. It is not uncommon for at home caretakers to become trusted and valued friends of their clients.

Getting Professional Senior Home Care Support

Senior home care agency administrators, volunteers and staff members realize that adult children have a myriad of responsibilities (e.g. raising their own children, work) that can prevent them from physically being with their aging parents as often as they would like. Because of this some local and national senior home care agencies will provide support after an adult child places a telephone call with them. Support can begin within 48 hours or less of the telephone call.

Volunteers and professionals who work with agencies range from:

  • Registered nurses (RNs)
  • Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
  • Physical therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Dieticians

Alzheimer care training is provided through many national senior home care agencies. Seniors who live at assisted living facilities can also receive the healthcare services at home. Costs for the care is generally less than the cost of placing an elderly loved one in a nursing home.

Background checks and criminal investigations can be conducted by the agency on professionals before they are permitted to provide care to a senior citizen in their home. Family members who are considering engaging a senior home care agency to provide additional support for an aging relative are encouraged to ensure that the caregivers are insured and bonded at the minimum. They should also discuss billing, including invoice frequency and where and to whom bills for the care should be sent to.

Senior Home Care Lengths

Senior Home Care Lengths

Home care is available on short and long term basis. For example, a loved one who recently underwent surgery and who would like to recuperate at home could receive senior home care services until they were completed healed and on their feet again. Care can also be provided to special needs children, injured young adults, etc.

Experienced senior home care professionals know how to remain calm during instances when the aging relative might be upset or confused. Their support allows aging adults to enjoy the comforts of the homes that they have spent years caring for and sharing special times with friends and family members in. The support also allows adult children, grandchildren and extended family members to feel “at home” each time that they visit with their elderly family member.

Senior home care professionals include nurses, therapists and volunteers. Care covers a broad range of areas including hygiene, housekeeping, errand running and companionship. Family members are encouraged to ensure that the home care professional who enters their aging relative’s home is at least bonded and insured. They should also communicate to the agency where invoices for the care should be sent.

Using Focus Groups to Help Improve Business Processes

Think of a focus group and you might imagine a group of children or adults in a room where they taste food, listen to music, watch a television program or movie, or any other activity where the end result is to gather consumer feedback on a product. In theory, the results of a focus group should tell the producers what may need changing or what was accepted well by the people doing the critiquing. Focus groups can also be used in a business setting to gather feedback from employees on the effectiveness of company processes, like performance appraisals, benefits or training. The idea of using focus groups to discuss company processes is not new, but the term is not widely associated for use in the business arena, great post to read.

Example of a Focus Group-worthy Business Process

Example of a Focus Group-worthy Business Process

Let’s use company-provided training as an example where the company surveyed upper management about what types of training they felt was needed to enhance employees’ skills to keep the company competitive. It should be noted that there may be mandatory training, like sexual harassment awareness. Voluntary participation in training that might improve employee job skills and knowledge is what perpetuated the survey and subsequent new training program, yet response to the training program has been limited.

Focus groups comprised of employees may provide insight into the less-than-successful launch of the new training program. The objective could be to gather feedback on why members of the focus group would or would not participate in company-provided training.

How Focus Group Members may be Selected

The results of a focus group are only as good as the people participating in the groups. When it comes to business practices, the group should include all levels of employees to which the process would apply and may include their managers. In our training example, the program of course offerings is directed to entry level to mid-management.

For a small organization, like less than 50 employees, you may want to bring all of them together. In larger organizations, particularly those with thousands of employees, it’s not feasible for them all to participate in focus groups. In this situation, the focus group organizers, possibly Human Resources, would work with mid-management to pull specific career levels or job positions from their departments to create a good cross representation.

What Might Happen with Focus Groups

With lack of participation in a training program as the theme, the focus group facilitator with a small team of advisors can draw up questions to present to the focus groups for discussion (there may be multiple facilitators and multiple focus groups at different office locations). Questions might include things such as: is the location of the training or the time it is being offered suitable, are the training sessions too long/short, or did the time of the training coincide with other job-critical events? The facilitator can start the discussion with prepared questions but should also be open to comments from the focus group that are outside the scope of the questions.

Participants can also be presented with the option to provide private input to the facilitator, like via email or phone call, because some participants may feel uneasy about commenting in a group. This can happen if the employee is intimidated by a manager or fellow employees, dissuading or belittling them for wanting to participate in company-provided training.

Digestive Enzymes – Bromelain & Papain

Digestive enzymes assist and speed up the chemical processes associated with digestion. In most cases, our bodies naturally produce enzymes that are capable of digesting food. However, individuals with certain health conditions and disorders may require the use of supplements to supply enzymes that aid digestion. Although many people with pancreatic disorders often require the use of prescription pancrelipase, the benefits of digestive enzymes in healthy individuals remains uncertain.

Digestive Enzymes

Enzymes

The following digestive enzymes are classified by the type of biochemical molecules on which they exert their effects:

  • Lipase-(Fats, Lipids)
  • Protease-(Protein)
  • Amylase-(Sugars, Carbohydrates)

Within each group, there are many subtypes of enzymes that are naturally produced by our body. In addition, digestive enzyme may also be contained in the foods that we eat. Some of the most common digestive enzymes found in supplements are derived from fruit sources.

Bromelain Supplements

Bromelain is a protease enzyme that is harvested from the stem of pineapples. Besides assisting in the digestion of proteins, it may also stimulate the muscles of the intestinal walls. Bromelain is often included a major ingredient in many digestive enzyme supplements. Since it is derived from pineapples, it may trigger an allergic reaction in people with pineapple allergies.

Papain Supplements

Papain is also a common ingredient included in digestive enzyme supplements. In contrast to bromelain, papain is a protease enzyme that is harvested from papaya fruit. Papain is also used to aid in the digestion of proteins. However, it can trigger an allergic reaction in person with allergies to papaya.

Digestive Enzyme Benefits

Although evidence to support the benefits of digestive enzyme supplements in healthy individuals is inconclusive, certain dietary enzymes have shown to be beneficial in people with specific health conditions. Lactase is an amylase that helps to break down lactose, a carbohydrate commonly found in dairy products. It can be of great benefit for individuals who suffer from lactose intolerance. Also, patients who suffer from a disorder of the pancreas are often prescribed pancrelipase to aid in the digestion of meals.

Digestive Enzyme Side Effects

An allergic reaction can occur in those who are sensitive to enzymes derived from certain plants or fruits. An allergic reaction may include the appearance of an itchy rash. More severe cases that include swelling of the mouth and throat, or difficulty breathing requires immediate medical attention. Since digestive enzymes exert their effect in the stomach and intestines, patients may experience symptoms of upset stomach or diarrhea. In addition, patients may experience nausea and vomiting.

The use of digestive enzymes may cause a fibrosing colonopathy. This occurs when enzymes cause damage and irritation to the inner linings of the intestinal tract. Although the mechanisms causing this adverse effect are unclear, fibrosing colonopathy is a serious medical condition. In theory, digestive enzymes can interfere with the healing of intestinal ulcers or perforations. Since digestive enzymes can interfere with medications and exacerbate certain health conditions, patients should always contact a physician before using digestive enzyme supplements.

Disclaimer:The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.

Bogota’s Half Marathon: July 29 and Bigger than Ever!

At 2600 meters above sea level, running the 21km of Bogotá’s half marathon is not a feat for those of faint heart or sea level lungs. An endeavour of this magnitude takes time, dedication and above all, acclimatisation. For those not up to competing in the 21km event there is also an alternative Bogota 10km on the same day that takes in a different route bus ends in the same place.

One glance over the top ten finishers will tell you what you already know; the list is smattered with names from traditional distance running powerhouses and high altitude experts from Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia.

The Favourites

The Favourites

This year’s favourite in the Men’s category to take home the 21,000,000 Colombian Pesos (US$10,800) of prize money and the Renault Logan is the Kenyan, Paul “the Gentleman” Tergat.

Tergat is the current Marathon World Record holder finishing the prestigious Berlin event in a swift 2:04:55. In addition to this he has two Olympic silver medals for the 10,000m  and in 2005 won the New York Marathon.

In the Women’s event the field looks to be more open but two serious challengers are Argentina’s Claudia Camargo and Nataliya Berkut from the Ukraine.

The Event in last year

Men’s Winner – Fabiano Joseph – Tanzania – 01:02:34

Women’s Winner – Catherine Ndereba – Kenya – 01:12:56

A total of 58,000 people participated in both the 21km and 10km courses. This year the organisers are confident that this number will have significantly increased as the popularity of the event continues to grow in this its eighth edition.

What Makes Bogota so Special?

What Makes Bogota so Special

Like most international sporting events a city’s marathon or half marathon will take in the major sites of that location. Bogota is no different. Both the half marathon and the 10km will start in the opulent surroundings of the Plaza de Bolivar, the seat of Colombian power, overshadowed by the Law Courts, the Cathedral and the Presidential Palace in the Candelaria district with Monserrate towering above, click over here.

Continuing from there down Carrera 7 will take the runners past the world renowned Gold Museum, the National Museum, past the Javeriana University and through the Chapinero district.

The route then moves west before returning back into the wealthy zones of Northern Bogota and towards the elite Country Club. The big turn for the homecoming to the finish line occurs around Pasadena and then through Salitre before the final stretch into the verdant refuge of the expansive Parque Simon Bolivar.

Here at the finish line like in next year there will be a jamboree and celebrations for the runners and well wishers with Colombian artists putting on a concert with all the dancing that can only be conjured in a Latin country.

One only hopes that the weather holds and the runners are presented with a clear and crisp Bogota day.

Self Improvement and How to Get Out of the Recession

In the current situation of economic crisis, unemployment is raging like fire. It is the main issue haunting many individuals as they have either faced a layoff or on the verge of being handed over the pink slip. It is in this scenario that an individual gets stressed up and seems to have fallen into a tavern and not know how to escape.

The first and foremost thing that an individual should understand is that he should not panic. It is not the case of anyone individual losing their livelihood but of thousands and millions around the world. At the same time one must understand that even during this period of recession still many of them are employed and thriving in their businesses.

So what is the reason that one is employed and another is unemployed? The difference is employability skills. Those who are still employed have a higher degree of employability than those who are not. And how does an individual find out what he lacks in his own set of employability skills. It is at this juncture, the SWOT analysis comes to play.

How to Get Out of the Recession

SWOT analysis stands for analysis of an individual’s strength, weakness, opportunity and threats. A person needs to do his own SWOT analysis and focus it to get better results with more self improvement you can try this out with an ultimate goal to get out of the recession.

The first step in SWOT analysis is strength. An individual should write down in a sheet of paper what are his strengths. Rather what are his skills both technical as well as non-technical that would make him more employable? He needs to then analyze how many of them he is currently using and must devise a strategy for those skills that he is not using currently, however must put into use as soon as possible.

The next step in SWOT analysis is the weakness. After carefully writing down all his weaknesses, an individual must put in efforts to find out how he can minimize his weaknesses and make all those into his strength areas.
Next, he should think about his opportunities during his SWOT analysis and find out what are the current openings or opportunities for him to improve, to get better position and be safeguarded against recession.
Finally, SWOT analysis will reveal the individual’s threats and an individual who really has an instinct to improve and get out of recession will find them and be cautious enough to avoid them or should plan accordingly to tackle them and get out of harm’s way.

Thus, SWOT analysis is a method which every individual must implement for self-improvement and to get out of recession.

Fast Muscle Growth

The best and the fast. When it comes to muscle growth one of those can not happen. My teenage son has started working out with the weights and wants my help. Sure, would love to. He has been training for about a month and got his first pump in his biceps. He thought it was great, like most of us. “I’m getting bigger now” he said to me. I had to let him know that was just a pump and it would go away soon. But him and his friends chase that pump, everyday new muscle group. They think that the more they pump the bigger the will get. Wrong. That pump is a lot like a lot of problems I see in the gym today. Quick. I need muscles fast. New cable machine and everyone is on it. Waiting there turn. New supplement came in and everyone is trying to get there hands on it. New bodybuilder in town and everyone is trying his routine. Latest and greatest. Funny how it never seems to stay around. I remeber pre-exhaution with Arthur Jones and the Joe Wieder principles. All that is gone now. What is left is what works and that is the best for muscle growth.

Muscle Growth

So what is left? The basics. How boring. Yeah, I know, but it works. Always has and always will. The big basic multi joint exercises. Low reps. high reps. The bench press and the deadlift. The power clean and the squat. Full reps. No half ass stuff. That is the best muscle growth, when you stop training and you have dieted down. What stayed? Protein powders, they stayed, whey and all. The multi vitiamns stayed. The pro-hormones are gone( but not because they did not work, thanks big brother). Gaint sets are gone.

Fast never works, it just will not stay long enough to prove itself. But the best always stays around. Regroup with the basics. Three days a week, full body workouts. Protein powder shakes with milk , that stayed. Twice a day routines left, who has time for that. Give me one heavy set of deadlifts for max reps, to the point of passing out that will build real muscle and the real muscle is what stays. That is the best.

Unregulated Toxins Are Found in Most Personal Care Products

Is your skin irritated by beauty products? Do you think you have sensitive skin? What about your children using personal care products?

You may be interested to know that of the thousands of personal care products on the market, only 11% of them have been tested for safety. This includes all kinds of products, from lotions and soaps to baby care and personal hygiene products. What is worse, many of the chemicals and ingredients these products contain are actually carcinogens or otherwise directly toxic to humans! Curiously, the FDA does not have authority over what the manufacturing companies use in personal care products. And more curiously, most of these toxins have been banned in Europe, but not in Canada or the US. Only recently did the FDA decide to begin enforcing a truth-in-labeling law from 1975 which requires labels to provide information about ingredients that have not been safety tested. 99% of cosmetics and toiletries products in the US market contain untested ingredients, but labels still do not give consumers this information.

Personal Care Products

Scientists have identified many toxic and carcinogenic substances that are routinely used by people every day through personal care products. Every chemical that comes in contact with your skin is absorbed to some degree. Every time you use a product that contains untested formulas on your body, you are giving yourself a dose of the chemicals. One of the most heinous chemicals that permeates America today is triclosan. Triclosan is a hormone-disrupting pesticide that was recently FDA approved for use in over 140 products. In a test group of over 2,000 people, it was found in the urine of over 75% of them. Triclosan is a chemical that bioaccumulates and is stored in fatty tissue. It causes liver disease. It can end up in breast milk and can cause fetal and childhood development problems. Triclosan is used as a microbial agent in sanitizing products which include hand soaps, hand sanitizers, baby bibs and dozens of other baby products, toothpaste (Colgate, see , undergarments and other clothing, toys, and even countertops and credit cards. It remains in the environment, in streams and rivers, breaking down into chemicals that are toxic to wildlife as well as humans. The risk factors associated with its use are poorly understood or not researched. Read more about triclosan here, including some disturbing lab test results that were omitted from EPA approval documents in 2008.

Phthalates are a large group of toxic chemicals that are used in a host of common products such as hair spray, deodorants, nail polish, perfumes and all sorts of scented items. They are used as solvents and plasticizers in cosmetics and other products. (If you’ve ever thought how “plastic” makeup sometimes looks, you were exactly right.) Black and brown hair dyes contain carcinogens. Cosmetic grade talc (that sounds pure, doesn’t it?) is a carcinogen. Talc has been removed from some products such as baby powders after public outcry, but it still is used in others. Labels will often have a long list of chemicals that are preservatives, and many of them are not stable and will break down into formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen. Some foaming additives and detergent compounds in soaps, shampoos, and cleansers are also carcinogenic. Even lanolin, which is a natural ingredient pressed from sheep’s wool, may contain pesticides and many agricultural chemicals. DDT, which was banned in 1972, sometimes appears in lanolin, so even a natural substance can be contaminated with toxins.

Personal Care

Consumer groups try to keep pressure on lawmakers to clean up this mess. One organization, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, urges consumers to take a pro-active approach and carefully scrutinize products before buying them. Just because the mainstream products are unregulated doesn’t mean that safe alternatives aren’t out there. Check the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database to learn here. One of the best ways to find safe alternatives is to search online for companies that make their safe ingredients and wholesome manufacturing practices a priority. Usually these companies proudly display their commitment to product safety in a prominent place on their websites, making it easier for consumers to make comparisons.

10 Ways to Detox from the Holidays

Can you feel it? That little tug every time you try to zip up your pants? Or have you just resorted to sweats and yoga pants at this point? We all indulge a little during the holidays. And why not? They only come once a year. But with all those plates of fudge, high calorie coffee drinks, oodles of iced cookies, and sugary cocktails, you’re bound to put on a few pounds. It’s inevitable with all that excess salt, fat, sugar, and processed junk in your system. But aside from a little scale disappointment, you probably feel sluggish and blah from the lack of good nutrition. Here’s how you can help yourself feel better in the new year. To know more about the detox, read here: www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/rev/nuubu-beoordelingen.

Detox
  1. Acknowledge your shortcomings. This is the first step to any successful change. Yeah, you ate that cheesecake. Three pieces. And an extra large helping of prime rib. And you washed it down with a gallon of soda. Probably not your proudest dietary moment. But so what? It’s done. Now take a minute to think about how it made you feel. Chances are, your stomach hurts, you’ve got a headache, you’re a little dehydrated, and you are longing to hibernate. By associating those feelings with unhealthy foods, you’re less likely to overindulge the next time. It’s fine to have those things in moderation, but keep in mind the reasons why you don’t have them every day.
  2. Drink some water. Your body needs this now more than ever. Flush out toxins and rehydrate with 6 to 8 glasses of water each day. Add a slice of lemon or orange, or a few mint leaves to give it some extra flavor if you find plain water too boring.
  3. Switch from coffee to green tea to start your day. Coffee is part of most people’s morning routine, but it also sets us up to crave excess carbs and sugar throughout the day. While it’s a good idea to limit caffeine, green tea contains antioxidants that coffee doesn’t. You’ll feel energized, without the crash later on. Or, look for a decaf variety.
  4. Up your fiber intake. At times like this, you need to get your digestive system, well, moving again. So pay attention to the amount of fiber in your foods. Choose whole grains like whole wheat toast with an apple or a fruit smoothie with added spinach to start your day, and you’ll be regular again soon.
  5. Stick to mild flavors. Hot, spicy foods are not your friend right now. Although they do have health benefits, you don’t want to risk upsetting your stomach any further. You may also want to avoid acidic foods like tomatoes, and oranges. Instead, choose foods that have “neutral” flavors, such as oatmeal. Boring? Maybe. But your system has had plenty of excitement lately. Time to repent. The one exception is ginger, which has been known to soothe upset tummies for generations.
  6. Load up on antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Not only do these provide fiber, but they’ll give you antioxidant protection as well. Crucifers, like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, and leafy greens like spinach and kale, are great choices. Or try some red grapes when you’re craving something sweet.
  7. Limit your sugar. This is easier said than done, but it’s well worth it. The fact is, excess sugar in our diets increases inflammation. Ironically, we often reach for sugary treats when we feel yucky, but it just perpetuates a vicious cycle. More sugar makes us feel worse, so we wind up eating more sugar. Don’t do that.
  8. Avoid processed foods. Like sugar, all those chemicals and preservatives in processed foods mess with your body’s chemistry. This is the time to go for whole, fresh, clean foods. If it comes out of a box or can, you probably should avoid it for now.
  9. Get some exercise. No, that doesn’t mean you need to go out and run a marathon or do two hours of weight training. Hardcore fitness can come later. A gentle walk around the block is sufficient to get your blood circulating and keep you from lazing on the couch. Don’t forget to stretch before and after.
  10. Pamper yourself. Yep, you read that correctly. Make some time just for you. Turn off the TV, and your phone, and settle in with a book or a stack of magazines. Light a candle. Take a bubble bath. Do some yoga. Meditate. Write in a journal. Whatever it is that helps you enjoy the feeling of solitude, do that. And don’t feel guilty about it. You need this time to help your system rebound.

Now, don’t you feel better already?

What Is It Called When You Need Reading Glasses?

The eye is our sensitive sensory organ. When your age increases, you may face some problems in your eyes. There may have some effect on your eyes. When you are forty years old, your eyes may lose natural flexibility. Eyes can’t focus as easily from near to far vision like your younger age. If your eyes get less flexibility and your close vision gets worse. This condition is called presbyopia. For this reason, you need to use reading glasses. Continue reading at our site to know about what is it called when you need reading glasses.

Some Symptoms You May Have Presbyopia

Some Symptoms You May Have Presbyopia

Your arms suddenly aren’t long enough: When presbyopia progress, your arms suddenly aren’t long enough. You can find yourself holding a newspaper, book, and your phone away from your face. 

Headaches after reading or doing close work: Presbyopia is one of the reasons for headaches. You can feel headaches after reading or doing close work.

Difficulty reading small print: It is difficult for you to read the small print. 

Need bright light when reading or doing close work: When presbyopia occurs, you have needed bright light for any reading or doing close work. 

Feel the urge to nap at work: When you continuously work reading or doing at the computer, you feel the urge and nap at work. It may be an early sign of presbyopia. The eyes lenses start to change then your vision system work hard to compensate. It will make you feel tired. 

Find yourself rubbing your eyes frequently: It is another reason that can be chalked up to eye strain. Your eyes can irritate from working to overcome focusing challenges in the primary stage. 

What Causes Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is an age-related cycle. It is a steady thickening and loss of adaptability of the normal focal point inside your eye.

These age-related changes happen inside the focal point proteins, making the focal point harder and less versatile over the long haul. Age-related changes likewise occur in the muscle strands encompassing the focal point. With less versatility, it gets hard for the eyes to focus on the nearest items.

Treatment For Presbyopia

There are some treatments for presbyopia. These are eyeglasses, contact lenses, and vision surgery.

Eyeglasses: It is the most popular solution for presbyopia. It is perfect for the over age 40. Eyeglasses provide excellent vision at all distances. Another treatment option is eyeglasses with bifocal lenses. Bifocal lenses can provide a limited range of vision for presbyopia patients.   

Treatment For Presbyopia

Contact Lenses: Another treatment is using a contact lens. This is available in gas permeable materials. There is also a monovision lens. Some people appreciate it. Some people complain of reduced visual acuity. Because of human eyes changes gradually.  

Presbyopia surgery: If you don’t want to use a contact lens or eyeglasses, you will take surgical options to treat presbyopia. The surgery is available. 

Now, you have realized what is it called when you need reading glasses? I suggest taking care of your eyes more carefully and go to an eye specialist when you need a reading glass.

Photos of Skin Cancer Symptoms Are Great Tools

Early detection is extremely important in the successful treatment of skin cancer and in many cases can avoid the necessity of aggressive therapies which cause more severe side effects. Resources should be made available for the patient to take an active role in early detection, but this should go beyond the skin cancer symptom photo. People should be encouraged to make certain behavioral changes to prevent and detect skin cancer, such as learning some general information, avoiding risk factors, performing self-examinations, and making frequent visits to their doctors.

Skin Cancer Symptoms

If a person finds a suspicious skin irregularity by chance and does not immediately recognize it as a skin cancer warning sign, they may wait too long to see a doctor, hoping it will heal on its own. This is a case in which a person can benefit from seeing photos of skin tumors. However, an irregularity of the skin which appears to be skin cancer may in some cases be a completely different condition, and if a person wrongly self-diagnoses skin cancer they may panic without need. Seeing images of skin cancer can be beneficial in the sense that it lets you know when you need to see a doctor, but it’s more effective to encourage people to visit their doctors regularly and check here organimedusa, especially when they do find something that looks suspicious, but without panicking. Ideally, people need to have access to consistent health care and the ability to see a doctor for regular checkups regardless of illness, this way if they find any irregularities they can ask a doctor’s preliminary opinion “while they’re there”.

Public dialogue concerning skin cancer mostly involves prevention and not early detection, with the basic message being that people should wear sunscreen, avoid peak hours of sunlight, avoid sunburns, and do not excessively tan or use tanning beds. A recent study has shown that tanning beds are a significant risk factor for melanoma, which is the severest form of skin cancer. The message of early detection is not getting out. Everyone has heard of breast examinations, but relatively few people know that they should also perform regular skin self-examinations. This is an extremely effective and important tool, because since it appears on the skin, it can be detected early enough that it can generally be surgically removed, and additional treatment may not be necessary. A skin cancer symptom photo can be very useful in giving a person a general idea of what to look for during a skin examination, but they do need to know some general information as well. People need to understand the difference between melanoma and nonmelanoma symptoms, and they especially need to know the connection between melanoma and moles or nevi, and that dysplastic or irregular nevi need special attention. Photos are helpful, but people need to know that with dysplastic nevi, any change warrants a visit to their doctor.