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TORONTO — Rexall has teamed up with the Air Miles Reward Program to help people prevent sunburns and limit unprotected sun exposure.
The Canadian drug store chain, part of Katz Group, said Monday that this summer Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus locations are holding Sun Awareness Days in which customers can book a consultation with a pharmacist and have their photo taken with a special ultra-violet (UV) camera that detects potential areas of sun damage on the face.
Also to help promote sun protection this summer, Rexall and Air Miles have partnered on a program in which the drug chain’s customers can earn one bonus mile on every summer skin care purchase of $10.
According to a Leger survey conducted for Rexall and Air Miles, Canada’s coalition loyalty program, 47% of Canadians don’t apply sunscreen in May and June — the highest UV ray months of the year — while one in 10 say they never apply sunscreen at any time of the year.
Rexall noted that although it may not always be convenient for consumers to visit a doctor, a local pharmacist is available seven days a week and can recommend the right sunscreen based on skin type, skin tone and outdoor activity level. The survey found that pharmacists ranked second as a trusted source of sun protection information (27%), behind only a family physician (30%).
"We’re happy to hear that Canadians see the value in tapping into their local pharmacist as a resource for information on sun protection," Rexall pharmacist Tracey Phillips said in a statement. "It is very important for Canadians to be aware of the effects of unprotected sun exposure. In fact, it is estimated that between 60% to 70% of skin cancer cases are entirely preventable."
The poll also found that almost one in five Canadians admitted they don’t know what SPF means, and nearly one in three (29%) think they should pick sunscreen based only on the SPF and how long they want to stay out in the sun, regardless of their skin type. It’s important to choose the right sunscreen for skin type and activity level outdoors.
What’s more, even when Canadians are applying sunscreen, most aren’t applying enough, according to Rexall. The average Canadian applies less than half the amount of sunscreen than he or she should. As a rule, an average-sized adult should apply 2 ounces to 2.5 ounces (approximately two shot glasses full) of sunscreen with each application.
"To ensure you are taking the right precautions, it’s important to take the guess work out of your sun care routine," stated Phillips. "Talk to your local pharmacist about what kind of protection and prevention is best for you and your family."
