Rite Aid Partners with The Skin Cancer Foundation to Promote Free Skin Cancer Screenings, Safe Summer Skin Care

CAMP HILL, Pa.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--To help customers safely enjoy the summer, Rite Aid again is partnering with The Skin Cancer Foundation to promote smart skin care practices and raise skin cancer awareness. The nationwide outreach program kicks off May 30 and includes a free skin care guide, potentially life-saving free full-body skin cancer screenings performed by local dermatologists and expert advice from more than 12,000 Rite Aid pharmacists nationwide.

The 12-page, full-color skin care guide is available free May 30 to July 24 or while supplies last at nearly 4,800 Rite Aid locations and online at www.riteaid.com. The guide covers a wide range of topics including:

Daily skin care tips to prevent damage and fight wrinkles including the role of sunscreen, vitamin C serum, hydroxy acid, silicone, retinol and other products in a daily regimen
Safe alternatives to tanning such as using the latest generation of natural-looking self-tanners that temporarily dye skin and can even serve as a base sunscreen
The dangerous myth that people of color are less susceptible to sun damage. In reality, they are more likely to die from melanoma, which develops most often on the feet and under nails, as opposed to the tips of ears, nose and shoulders of Caucasians.
Potentially life-saving tips to catch cancer early such as using the ABCDEs to be wary of moles that change asymmetry, borders, color, diameter or are otherwise evolving or changing
The difference between UVA and UVB rays and how to best choose a sunscreen blocking both
Advice on incorporating sun protection into a daily routine by layering it atop of medication and moisturizer, but below foundation and blush.
Tips to reduce existing damage including bleaching age spots, reducing redness, smoothing scars and even hiding imperfections with shadow highlights and contrasting colors based on blemish hues
Diabetes-specific skin care such as properly moisturizing everywhere but between toes

Rite Aid is hosting The Skin Cancer Foundation's Road to Healthy Skin Tour for the third year along with Aveeno®. The Tour offers free full-body skin cancer screenings in two private rooms of a brightly decorated 38-foot RV that is winding across the nation through September. For more details on the tour, visit www.riteaid.com where visitors also can find links to a skin type quiz, makeup matching information, a downloadable body map that allows you to track any changes in your skin and a list of Tour dates and locations. Visitors who spend $20 on select skincare products from Rite Aid stores the day of a Tour stop can redeem their receipts, while supplies last, for a free gift bag containing a dozen skin care product samples.

Rite Aid is further encouraging good skin care by offering shoppers a Single Check Rebate gift of a $10 store gift card with a $25 purchase of select skin care products or a $25 store gift card with a $50 purchase of select skin care products. A complete list of participating skin care products as well as all program restrictions are included in the June and July Single Check Rebate directories available at all Rite Aid stores. Information also is available at www.riteaid.com.

Customers who use their wellness+ card with their qualifying skin care purchases will receive an additional $5 gift card. Rite Aid's new free wellness+ customer rewards program provides members with free health and wellness benefits, as well as shopping discounts and special prices. Enrollment in wellness+ is free at all Rite Aid stores, online at www.riteaid.com or at 1-800-RITEAID.

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime making it more common than cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon combined. Rite Aid's outreach this summer with The Skin Cancer Foundation comes at a time of increased awareness of the dangers of tanning beds. Tanning is especially hazardous to young people. Those who use tanning beds before age 35 increase their lifetime risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75 percent.

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.

Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,800 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia with fiscal 2010 annual revenues of $25.7 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through Rite Aid’s website at www.riteaid.com.