Women’s Dermatologic Society Wraps up 3-Year Run of Sun Safety Outreach Campaign With Great Results and Its Fifth National Award

RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS) wraps up a highly successful three-year run of its community outreach campaign, Play Safe in the Sun, the organization recently earned the 2011 American Academy of Dermatology's Gold Triangle Award in recognition of its efforts to raise public awareness of dermatologic issues through this program. This prestigious honor represents the fifth national award given to the WDS for its educational outreach efforts since 2004.

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Play Safe in the Sun, supported by L'Oreal USA since 2008, promotes sun safety awareness and skin cancer prevention through free skin cancer screenings and public education at professional golf and tennis tournaments. WDS President Lisa A. Garner, MD comments, "We are very proud to have had such outstanding volunteer participation by our members around the country to help people of all ages and skin types learn how to protect their skin and prevent skin cancer, and we are very grateful to L'Oreal USA for its generous support for this important cause."

Play Safe in the Sun accomplished the following results in 2010:

• WDS Members contributed 400 volunteer hours through eight outreach events and activities around the USA.
• 65 volunteers participated in skin cancer screening and educational outreach events, including 31 dermatologists.
• 311 free skin cancer screenings were provided by the Board-certified dermatologists.
• 35% of people screened were referred to a dermatologist for further diagnosis/biopsy of suspected cancers.
• 600 sun damage assessments were conducted using UV reflectance camera.
• 75,000 samples of free broad-spectrum sunscreen were given to the public.
• Public awareness was raised through a series of Public Service Announcements that aired on the Golf Channel and through various social media platforms, featuring WDS President Lisa Garner, MD (2010-2011), Iowa dermatologist Marta VanBeek, MD and sun safety ambassador and Duramed FUTURES Tour player, Ryann O'Toole.

The Play Safe in the Sun campaign is overseen by the WDS Service Committee, which has been co-chaired since 2007 by Michel McDonald, MD (Nashville, TN) and Adrienne Stewart, MD (Denver, CO) 2007. The program was established in 2004 by Immediate Past President Wendy E. Roberts, MD (Rancho Mirage, CA) under the presidency of Sandra Read, MD (Washington, DC).

Visit: www.playsafeinthesun.org

ABOUT WDS

The Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS) supports the careers and professional development of women dermatologists. Our mission is to help women in dermatology achieve their greatest 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, and public education.

ABOUT L'OREAL USA

L'Oreal USA, headquartered in New York City, 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 Professionnel 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 Fragrances, Redken 5th Avenue NYC, Matrix, Mizani, SkinCeuticals and PureOlogy.

SOURCE Women's Dermatologic Society