LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP has teamed up with the popular teenage Web site ELLEgirl.com to send four contest winners later this summer to a weeklong My Beauty Camp in Santa Monica, California. With the new school year approaching, the goal of the camp is to empower girls to become successful women by helping them build confidence and boost self-esteem through all aspects of their academic and personal lives.
One critical aspect of a teenager’s self-confidence is skin health, including proper management of acne.(1) According to results of the Skin Matters survey, conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP, the impact of acne extends beyond physical appearance and can have psychological and emotional effects on teenagers.(1) The survey found that 70% of teenagers feel pressure about having clear skin; and acne tends to impact teenage girls more negatively than teenage boys, with greater effects on their self-confidence, mood, physical health and relationships with family.(2)
In light of the survey results, Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP recognized My Beauty Camp as a valuable opportunity to address the physical and psychological impact of acne and to provide girls with educational tips on skin health.
“Acne is a vicious cycle — it can be a huge stressor for teenagers which can often lead to more acne breakouts,” says Richard Fried, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Director, Yardley Dermatology and Yardley Skin Enhancement and Wellness Center and an investigator of the Skin Matters survey. “Emotional stress has been linked to severe acne episodes, and certain factors in a teen’s life — such as getting ready to go back to school, trying out for a sports team or fitting into a social niche — can cause anxiety and distress. I recommend that my younger patients schedule a ‘back-to-school’ visit to gain control of their skin before these emotional factors affect them.”
My Beauty Camp offers a variety of useful workshops for girls ages 11 to 18 that address a range of adolescent issues such as fitness, self-esteem, skin care, college preparation, healthy eating, everyday etiquette, shopping sense, goal-setting, money management and more.(3) Gabrielle Thomas, a licensed aesthetician, founded My Beauty Camp in 2004 to provide a fun and rewarding experience that helps girls set and reach their highest goals.(3) The staff is comprised of an aesthetician, fashion stylist, clinical psychologist, hair stylist and peer mentor, all with whom provide hands-on workshops on their specialized subject matter.(3) Over 100 girls have attended the camp this summer.(3)
“Like most teens, I went though a very awkward stage of my life where I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin,” said Thomas. “Our goal at My Beauty Camp is to teach girls about how to take care of themselves from the inside-out, and provide them with the necessary tools to boost their self-esteem. The camp is a great opportunity for girls to attend right before the school year when insecurities can be at their highest.”
To participate in the ELLEgirl.com contest, girls were asked to submit a visual or written representation of what beauty means to them, whether it be a collage, photograph, painting, drawing, poem, or short essay. The winners of the My Beauty Camp contest are Beatrice Ebijimi (age 13) of Chicago; Mercedes Knibbs (age 15) of Bronx, NY; Jennifer Petrucci (age 13) of Cheshire, CT and Tyler Williams (age 14) of Alpharetta, GA.
“Being beautiful is expressing yourself. You have to love yourself and other people, and you have to take care of your body and be healthy. It’s knowing that you have natural beauty,” says Williams. “I’m excited to attend My Beauty Camp. I think it’s going to be a great way to learn about the latest beauty and health tips, discover more about myself and make new friends.”
The Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP and ELLEgirl.com contest winners will attend My Beauty Camp from August 25 through August 29. Since its founding in 2004, more than 1,200 girls throughout the United States have attended the camp and its related workshops.
About Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP
Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP, a water-based gel, is the only acne medication to combine tretinoin — the top prescribed retinoid — with patented microsphere technology. Microspheres, which are round microscopic particles made of synthetic polymers, slowly release tretinoin over time, reducing the irritation commonly seen with other tretinoin formulations and helping to absorb excess facial oil to reduce facial shine. Tretinoin is believed to loosen and expel existing acne plugs and prevent new blemishes from forming. Unlike other original tretinoin formulas which require a 20- to 30-minute waiting period after washing the face, Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP can be applied immediately after washing.
The Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP is a unique and sleek pump that delivers a consistent amount of medication with each use, making treatment easy and helping to prevent overuse. Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP reduces all types of acne- from red, inflamed lesions to small bumps.
Retin-A Micro(R) PUMP Fair Balance
Retin-A Micro(R) (tretinoin gel) microsphere, 0.04% and 0.1% are prescription medicines to put on the skin to treat acne. Retin-A Micro(R) 0.04% and 0.1% start working in as little as 2 weeks, with full results after 7 weeks. Unprotected exposure to the sun or tanning lights, extreme wind or cold, or use of irritating skin-care products may aggravate the skin. During the first weeks of treatment, you may experience dryness, redness, or peeling.
About OrthoNeutrogena(R)
OrthoNeutrogena(R), the dermatology-specialty division of Johnson & Johnson, is a leader in delivering novel therapies that address the multiple needs of dermatologists and their patients. A pioneer in treatment areas that span from acne and infection to aesthetics and photodamage, OrthoNeutrogena continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the dermatology community. OrthoNeutrogena dermatology products include: RETIN-A MICRO(R) PUMP, ERTACZO(R), BIAFINE(R), RENOVA(R) and Grifulvin V(R).
(This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from Johnson & Johnson’s expectations and projections. Risks and uncertainties include general industry conditions and competition; economic conditions, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and regulations; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99 of Johnson & Johnson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2006. Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as subsequent filings, are available online at www.sec.gov or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.)
About ELLEgirl.com
ELLEgirl.com provides young women with insider information on fashion, beauty, service and pop culture in a voice that, while maintaining authority on the subject, includes and amuses them. The modern, internet-savvy teenage girl (and future ELLE reader), is quite interested in and conscious of fashion — but also doesn’t take it (or herself) too seriously.
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long and rich history in multimodal research, powered by our science and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris Interactive serves clients globally through our North American, European and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.
(1) Harris Interactive. Impact of Acne: Teens, Adults, Parent, Dermatologists. February 2008. (Slide 7).
(2) Harris Interactive. Impact of Acne: Teens, Adults, Parent, Dermatologists. February 2008. (Slide 20).
(3) Thomas, Gabrielle (2008). My Beauty. My Beauty Camp Web site: http://www.mybeautycamp.com/
SOURCE OrthoNeutrogena