In the most concentrated effort to promote sun safety and skin cancer prevention in the 35-year history of the Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS), volunteer dermatologists in three states recently provided free skin cancer screenings and sun safety education to spectators, professional athletes and media members at four major golf and tennis events throughout the month of August. In total, WDS members conducted 569 free skin checks, with an overall average referral rate of 29% for further diagnosis/biopsy of suspected skin cancers.
This bustling period of outreach involved the largest-ever assemblage of 52 volunteers, accomplishing several firsts for the WDS community service project known as Play Safe in the Sun--which is currently in its second season of a 3-year campaign supported by L'Oreal USA.
"As the WDS Play Safe in the Sun initiative continues to grow and flourish, L'Oreal is proud to be an integral part of the project. The program's expansion to men, women and young adults in both golf and tennis further gets the message out about sun safety education and skin cancer prevention," comments Henric Sark, General Manager of Active Cosmetics Division for L'Oreal USA
Collective efforts led to the following ground- breaking outcomes: