Rite Aid And The Skin Cancer Foundation Help Customers Have Safe Fun In The Sun With Free Skin Care Guide, Online Info And Free Skin Cancer Screenings

Main Category: Melanoma / Skin Cancer
Also Included In: Dermatology;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 29 May 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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To help customers have a safe and fun summer in the sun, Rite Aid and The Skin Cancer Foundation are partnering to raise awareness and offer free information on the importance of smart skin care practices. A free skin care guide aimed to encourage customers to protect their skin this summer will be available at nearly 4,900 Rite Aid stores nationwide and online at http://www.riteaid.com starting May 31.

The 12-page skin care guide contains information from The Skin Cancer Foundation on being proactive in preventing skin cancer, guidelines on how to use and choose sunscreen, and tips to avoid burning. There's a section on how to protect the eyes with the proper sunglasses, as well as information on how different kinds of recreation call for different kinds of sun protection, such as sweat-resistant or water-resistant sunscreens and a lip balm of at least SPF 15.

The guide includes the signs of skin cancer, how diabetes affects the skin, how to use sunscreens and cosmetics together, and how to keep skin healthy year-round with the use of sunscreen, exfoliation and hydration - both on the surface with moisturizers and internally by drinking plenty of water. A simple quiz at http://www.riteaid.com/health/skin/ is designed to determine skin type and offers advice based on answers.

Also online at http://www.riteaid.com/health/skin/ is an interactive body map to track skin changes on a regular basis, a section about the differences between harmless spots and unusual growths that need immediate medical attention, and the facts about UVA/UVB protection.

Customers also can learn online or in all Rite Aid stores about how to get a free gift bag valued at $40, filled with popular skin care samples and coupons, with the purchase of $20 of specially marked skin care products.

Rite Aid pharmacists are specially trained to offer helpful information on proper skin protection options and always are available to answer questions on maintaining healthy skin while enjoying the outdoors. They also can counsel customers about certain medications that cause skin to burn more easily, a side effect called photosensitivity. Some commonly used medications, such as antibiotics, antihistamines, birth control pills and oral diabetes medications, require additional precautions to avoid sunburn, hives, rashes or other skin irritations.

Rite Aid also is participating for the second year in the The Skin Cancer Foundation's Road to Healthy Skin Tour presented by AVEENO® and Rite Aid, making 80 stops across the country - many of them local Rite Aid stores - to provide early detection services to thousands of people. At each stop, local board-certified dermatologists will conduct free full-body skin cancer screenings on a 38-foot customized RV in one of two private rooms. Educational materials that explain how to perform monthly skin checks at home and the proper ways to protect the skin from the sun on a daily basis also are provided, along with sunscreen samples, coupons and other useful information.

In 2008, the Road to Healthy Skin Tour traveled 17,650 miles making 81 stops. It attracted almost 7,000 visitors and screened more than 3,000. More than 3,200 suspicious markings were detected and 39 suspected cases of melanoma. For the tour schedule and other interactive features, visit http://www.riteaid.com/skintour.

Customers can check their local Rite Aid store for the new Rx Suncare line available only at Rite Aid and at http://www.riteaidonlinestore.com. This exclusive line of suncare products is competitive with national brands or items found at high-end specialty retailers in terms of quality but priced much lower. Seven products carry the prestigious Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation as an effective UV sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of SPF 30 to SPF 50 and anti-aging vitamins. Items in the RX Suncare line are priced from $2.49 to $9.99 and are fragrance free, non-comedogenic (does not block pores), supplemented by antioxidant vitamins and provide stabilized broad spectrum protection. Among the products are those specially designed for kids, sports, an advanced protection continuous spray, burn relief mask and a lip balm.

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, there are more cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon; in fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. Despite these staggering statistics, 40 percent of people admit that they never use sunscreen and only 11 percent use an SPF 15 or higher daily. The Skin Cancer Foundation, the only global organization solely devoted to preventing, detecting and treating skin cancer, reports the incidence of melanoma is increasing faster than that of almost any other cancer. For more skin cancer information visit http://www.skincancer.org.

Rite Aid's focus on skin care is part of its yearlong commitment to health and wellness. Each year Rite Aid offers free information, answers and education on health and wellness topics including allergies, oral health, diabetes, weight management and heart health.

Source
Rite Aid Corporation