WILMINGTON, Mass., Sept. 21, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:DUSA) announced today that it will be an official sponsor of and exhibitor at the AARP's Annual Life@50+ Conference. The Company will educate AARP members on actinic keratosis — often called "sun spots" — and about the importance of talking to their dermatologists about treatment options.
"The Life@50+ Conference gives us the opportunity to interact with individuals in the 50-plus demographic," said Bill O'Dell, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing. "People in this demographic who have spent time in the sun can become susceptible to actinic keratosis, or sunspots, which is a widely under-recognized pre-cancerous condition. Our goal at the conference is to educate the attendees about the importance of talking to their dermatologists about this condition."
More than 10 million Americans have actinic keratoses (AKs). AKs have the potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most common skin cancer. While most AKs remain benign, approximately 10 percent develop into SCC within an average of two years. Since there is no way to know ahead of time which AKs will become cancerous, it is very important to seek a dermatologist's care.
What are Actinic Keratoses (AKs)?
AKs — often called "sun spots"— are rough-textured, dry, scaly patches on the skin caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) such as sunlight. They occur most often on sun exposed areas of the skin and can range in color from skin toned to reddish brown. They can be as small as a pinhead or larger than a quarter.
About DUSA Pharmaceuticals
DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an integrated dermatology pharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development and marketing of its Levulan® PDT technology platform, and other dermatology products. Levulan® Kerastick® (aminolevulinic acid HCl) for Topical Solution, 20% plus DUSA's BLU-U® blue light photodynamic therapy illuminator is currently approved for the treatment of minimally to moderately thick actinic keratoses (AKs) of the face or scalp. DUSA also markets other dermatology products, including ClindaReach® (Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Solution 1%, USP) Pledgets. DUSA is based in Wilmington, Mass. Please visit our website at www.dusapharma.com.
About Life@50+
Life@50+, AARP's 2011 National Event and Expo, is a unique three-day annual event, providing sponsors and exhibitors exclusive access to America's most powerful demographic, the 50-plus audience. More than 25,000 members and guests from every state and more than a dozen countries are expected to join us at the Los Angeles Convention Center Sept. 22 - 24, 2011.