L'Oreal USA Announces Three-Year Support of Women's Dermatologic Society Foundation Community Outreach

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    SAN FRANCISCO and NEW YORK, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- L'Oreal USA, a
 subsidiary of the L'Oreal Group, announced that they have granted the
 Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS) Foundation $1,050,000 over a three-year
 period to support the WDS Play Safe in the Sun campaign, effective April
 2008. The WDS educational outreach campaign focuses on promoting sun safety
 and skin health awareness. The mission of the WDS campaign, which will be
 supported through funding from L'Oreal USA, is to educate, encourage, and
 empower women athletes and outdoor sports enthusiasts to maintain healthy
 skin and hair by promoting sun safety and optimal skin care practices.
 
     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080205/NYTU126 )
 
     The campaign will target female participants and spectators in the
 fields of golf and tennis, who face a heightened risk of developing skin
 cancer due to prolonged periods of cumulative sun exposure. Skin cancer
 continues to be the most common and most preventable form of cancer in the
 United States. Melanoma rates among women are rising, and it is the second
 most common cancer in women ages 25-29.
 
     Community outreach will take place at various venues in select cities
 hosting these outdoor sporting events. Local WDS members will reach out to
 the public on location with free skin cancer screenings conducted by board-
 certified dermatologists licensed in that state. Volunteer dermatologists
 will also provide photo damage assessments utilizing an ultra-violet
 reflectance camera and skin scanner unit which reveals the sun damaged
 areas of the face to the physician and participant. In addition,
 educational materials will be distributed containing information on sun
 safety practices, including proper sunscreen use and application. Free
 sunscreen samples will also be provided to the public at these outdoors
 events.
 
     "Safety and education have always been our first priority," stated
 Laurent Attal, President & CEO of L'Oreal USA. "The Women's Dermatologic
 Society's Play Safe in the Sun campaign aligns with our goal of educating
 the public on the dangers of sun exposure and what people can do protect
 themselves against harmful effects of UVA/UVB rays. We are pleased to
 support the WDS in this important endeavor."
 
     WDS President Suzanne Connolly, MD, commented, "As a national
 organization, the Women's Dermatologic Society is enthusiastically
 committed to serving the communities where our members work and live, by
 reaching out to people of all skin types to promote sun safety--
 particularly for outdoor sports enthusiasts who face higher risks. We are
 grateful to L'Oreal USA for their generous support in fulfilling this
 mission."
 
     L'Oreal's grant to the WDS Foundation represents the company's broader
 commitment to providing high quality skincare products and skincare
 education for women of all ages, skin types and ethnicities in communities
 throughout the United States. L'Oreal has been dedicated to the study of
 skin in different environments for more than 25 years resulting in the
 company's expertise in sun protection.
 
     ABOUT THE WOMEN'S DERMATOLOGIC SOCIETY (WDS)
 
     The Women's Dermatologic Society supports the careers and professional
 development of women dermatologists. The mission of the Women's
 Dermatologic Society is to help women in dermatology achieve their greatest
 personal and professional potential by striving to foster, promote, and
 support women's issues in dermatology; identify, train, and recognize women
 leaders in dermatology; provide a forum for developing relationships and
 the exchange of ideas and research relevant to women's issues; and promote
 the highest possible standards of ethics, research, patient care and
 education, as well as public education. WDS is comprised of more than 1,500
 members nationally and internationally, representing all sub-specialties in
 dermatology and work in private practice, academics and research. Visit:
 www.womensderm.org and www.playsafeinthesun.org
 
     ABOUT L'OREAL USA
 
     L'Oreal USA, headquartered in New York City, with 2006 sales of over $4
 billion and 7,500 employees, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L'Oreal SA,
 one of the world's leading beauty companies. L'Oreal USA has Research and
 Development, Manufacturing and Distribution facilities across eight states
 in the U.S., including New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois,
 Ohio, Colorado and Texas. L'Oreal's portfolio of brands includes Lancome,
 Giorgio Armani, Shu Uemura, L'Oreal Paris, Garnier, Vichy, La Roche-Posay,
 L'Oreal Professionel and Kerastase. The U.S. is the base for the product
 development, international marketing and advertising for L'Oreal's nine
 American brands: Maybelline New York, Soft-Sheen.Carson, Kiehl's Since
 1851, Ralph Lauren, Redken 5th Avenue NYC, Matrix, Mizani, SkinCeuticals
 and PureOlogy.
 
 
 

SOURCE L'Oreal USA