NEUTROGENA(R) and BabyCenter Sun Survey Finds While ‘Mom Knows Best’ She Can Learn Even More When it Comes to Sun Protection

LOS ANGELES, July 1 /PRNewswire/ — NEUTROGENA(R), the #1 dermatologist recommended suncare brand, and BabyCenter LLC, the leading online resource for expectant and new moms, released today the results of a Summer Safety Survey that reveals that while moms understand the importance of sun protection they still require additional education on applying sunblock for themselves and their families. While many moms (92%) agree that sunscreen is a must-have item when going outside this summer, only 15% use a product with SPF on their children’s skin every day.

Summer is a time when mothers want to be outside with their children, and 95% of moms are looking forward to spending the summer with their children. Despite knowing how important it is to use sunscreen, the results of the NEUTROGENA(R) and BabyCenter Summer Safety Survey revealed that 36% of moms let their children go outdoors without sunscreen. The survey also revealed that 45% of moms only apply sunscreen on their children when they will be outdoors for more than 30 minutes. Baby’s and children’s skin is ten times more sensitive to the elements because of thinner skin and an under-developed natural protection system, so it is crucial that their skin be protected 100% of the time.

“Complete understanding and vigilance around sun protection can be challenging for moms,” said Linda Murray, editor-in-chief of BabyCenter.com. “This survey and thorough sun care information empower moms to be sun savvy, so she knows she is doing the best for her kids.”

“As a dermatologist I see the effects that sun damage causes to skin; damage can occur at any age and babies can be even more susceptible to the sun,” said Dr. Lawrence F. Eichenfield, Professor of Pediatrics and Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego. “I recommend parents and babies practice sun protection every day to avoid a lifetime of cumulative sun exposure. It is also important to use a variety of sun protection measures to protect themselves and their babies when out in the sun including proper application of a physical sunblock, protective clothing, and seeking shade during peak sun hours.”

Despite decades of sun education, women and moms continue to be confused about proper sun behavior, so to encourage moms to make smart sun protection choices for themselves and their family, NEUTROGENA(R) and BabyCenter have joined forces to create an online resource center for sun protection education. At http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a6654055/safe_fun_in_the_sun, moms will find: a downloadable one-pager with information on how to protect themselves and their babies during the summer months, protection tips and tricks on how to apply sunscreen, general sun protection questions and answers, and information on the best products for babies. Moms will also have the opportunity to connect with other new moms who are looking for similar advice.

“As a company dedicated to offering superior sun protection products for all ages and lifestyles, we are proud to offer moms, children and babies superior sun protection technologies,” says Jim Colleran, President of NEUTROGENA(R). “Our broad portfolio gives consumers the ability to pick the right product that fits best with their needs, ensuring the best summer sun protection. We know that mom’s want a gentle, effective sunscreen that also feels great on their baby’s skin, which is why we created NEUTROGENA(R) Pure & Free(TM) Baby.”

To meet the specific skincare needs for babies and kids, NEUTROGENA(R) has introduced Pure & Free(TM) Baby Sunblock and WaterGuard Kids. NEUTROGENA(R) Pure & Free(TM) Baby Sunblock SPF 60+ with PureScreen(TM) is a new photo-stabilized, non-whitening physical sunblock with naturally sourced minerals, titanium and zinc oxide, clinically proven to be as “gentle-as-water” on baby’s skin. NEUTROGENA(R) WaterGuard Kids Sunblock SPF 70+ is formulated with an exclusive breakthrough waterproof technology that effectively withstands the reasons for children’s early sunscreen wear-off including: sweat, water, wipe-off and rub-off.

About NEUTROGENA(R)

A worldwide leader in premium, dermatologist-recommended skin, hair and cosmetics products, NEUTROGENA(R) Corporation has been providing consumers with health and beauty improvements for over 40 years. The Company manufactures and markets a line of premium-priced skin and hair care products that are distributed in more than 70 countries. Headquartered in Los Angeles, NEUTROGENA(R) is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, the world’s most comprehensive and broadly based health care products company.

About BabyCenter(R)

BabyCenter(R) is the Web’s #1 global interactive parenting brand, reaching 78 percent of new and expecting moms online in the United States, and reaching 16 million parents monthly across 19 markets worldwide. BabyCenter LLC operates www.babycenter.com, the largest online resource for expectant and new parents around the world, and has nurtured more than 100 million parents since its launch in 1997. BabyCenter(R) is available on the Internet in eight languages and has mobile applications available in English and Spanish. BabyCenter LLC is based in San Francisco, California, and is a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies.

SOURCE NEUTROGENA