Skin Cancer Screenings Free at Popular LPGA Tournament

Posted by Sandy

June 4, 2008

Women's Dermatologic Society United by a commitment to educate outdoor enthusiasts about sun safety and skin cancer prevention, a
corps of volunteers representing the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS)
will reach out to expected large crowds of spectators with free skin cancer
screenings, sun damage assessments, sun safety tips and free sunscreen at
the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola on June 6-8, 2008
at Bulle Rock Country Club in Havre de Grace, MD. This sun safety outreach
marks the second event in a new 3-year series planned for the “Play Safe in
the Sun” campaign, a community service presented to the public supported
by, and in collaboration with, L’Oreal USA. Comments Alan Meyers, Senior
Vice President, Corporate R&D, L’Oreal USA, “At L’Oreal, it is the goal of
our 3,000 scientists across the globe to develop state-of-the art products
with cutting-edge scientific technology. One of the main focuses of this
research is sun protection, and along with it, consumer education. L’Oreal
USA’s partnership with the Women’s Dermatologic Society reflects this
commitment, and allows us to further our mission of educating consumers on
the importance of sun safety — in particular those consumers who are most
at risk of developing skin cancer.

The local outreach will be co-hosted by Board-certified Maryland
dermatologists and WDS members Valerie Callender, MD, Medical Director,
Callender Skin and Laser Center (Mitchellville, MD), and Clinical Assistant
Professor of Dermatology, Howard University, and Karen Beasley, MD,
practicing dermatologist with The Maryland Laser, Skin & Vein Institute
(Hunt Valley, MD) and Clinical Assistant Professor Of Dermatology,
University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The “Play Safe in the Sun” outreach will offer free skin cancer
screenings by board-certified Maryland dermatologists, sun damage
assessments with a UV reflectance unit, sun safety educational materials
and free samples of broad-spectrum sunscreen. For tournament spectators,
the free skin checks will take place in the WDS Expo Tent, on Friday, June
6 through Sunday, June 8, from 9 am-3 pm daily. WDS dermatologist members
will also provide free skin cancer screenings for LPGA players, caddies and
on-site media at private events earlier in the week.

Dr. Callender, who is returning for her third time to chair a “Play
Safe in the Sun” event, comments, “We are delighted to come back to this
terrific tournament, where we know we are reaching people whose love of the
game of golf puts them at a heightened risk of developing skin cancer, due
to cumulative sun exposure. We encourage all weekend golf fans to stop by
our tent, get a free skin check and enough sunscreen for the whole day.”
According to Dr. Beasley, “Enough sunscreen for your day means a golf-ball
sized amount for the face and body, re-applied every nine holes — whether
under sunny or cloudy skies.”

In recognition of the local WDS outreach, Havre de Grace Mayor Wayne
Dougherty will declare Friday, June 6 as “Play Safe in the Sun” Day
citywide to remind citizens of the importance of sun safety.

The WDS national campaign, co-chaired by WDS members Adrienne Stewart,
MD (Denver, CO) and Michel McDonald, MD, (Nashville, TN), draws from the
organization’s 1,500 dermatologist members to provide volunteer support in
local communities to increase sun safety awareness and promote healthy skin
habits. Later in the professional golf season, WDS will present Play Safe
in the Sun at the LPGA Safeway Classic in Portland, OR and the Samsung
World Championship, Half Moon Bay, CA. WDS will make its debut into the
world of professional tennis at the Pilot Pen Classic in New Haven, CT in
August, 2008. For further information, please visit:
http://www.playsafeinthesun.org or http://www.womensderm.org.