Your Health

Healthy skin

As soft music plays, the young man tenderly caresses his partner's body, admiring her beauty ... and looking for signs of skin cancer.

The YouTube video starring actress Malin Akerman ("27 Dresses" "The Heartbreak Kid") "shows how skin examinations can be fun, while communicating the seriousness of the skin cancer message," said Jim Colleran, president of Neutrogena Corp., which makes skin-care products. "This video is meant to create buzz, spark conversation and serve as a wake-up call."

"Fun" isn't the first word that comes to mind when we think about skin cancer self-exams, but it's pretty hard to get a good look at a mole on the middle of your back - and that's where your partner comes in.

Akerman recently had her own skin-cancer scare. The actress noticed a mole on her face was changing shape and asked her doctor to remove it; luckily, it was benign.

To see the video, visit www.youtube.com and search for "Akerman and skin cancer."

When life gives lemons

There's nothing that tastes better on a hot day than a cold lemonade. Go ahead and indulge, but also consider a visit to the world's first virtual lemonade stand to help kids with cancer.

For $1, you can buy a virtual cup of lemonade at www.lemonadestandforlife.com for yourself or to share (via e-mail) with family and friends. Volvo Cars of North America bought the first 200,000 cups, and all the proceeds go to pediatric cancer research.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation evolved from the real-life lemonade stand cancer patient Alexandra Scott started in her front yard. Since Alex's death from neuroblastoma in 2004 at the age of 8, ALSF has raised more than $19 million to help find a cure for children's cancers.