NEW YORK -- May is Melanoma Awareness Month. La Roche-Posay, in partnership with Dr. Whitney Bowe and Fran Brescia-Coniglio, have launched a four part health web series to highlight the importance of sun safety to teens and young adults. "The Burning Truth: Debunking Myths About the Sun" was created by Boew, a board-certified dermatologist and research scientist, and Brescia-Coniglio, an Emmy award winning television producer. The weekly episodes launched on May 20.
The goal of the series is to debunk the surge of false sun safety claims that appear online which can put young people at risk. Those claims include DIY sunscreens and the belief that sunscreen use is only for sunny days. The myths are addressed with humor and facts from leading experts in a way to engage a 13-24 year old audience.
Bowe is the host of the series and is known as the creator of the viral TikTok Skin Cycling phenomenon that has more than 3.5 billion views, and her 14-year-old daughter, Maclane, who challenges her mom to explain sun and skin facts in an amusing and scientific way. Each week, internet personalities including Chef Eitan Bernath, STEM Educator Steve Spangler, and science influencers Kate the Chemist and Glow by Ramón will highlight a viral sun safety myth as the team identifies what's fact, what's fiction, and why sun safety matters. The content is available to stream on Bowe's social media platforms.
The Burning Truth docu-series is endorsed by IMPACT Melanoma. The non-profit is dedicated to significantly reducing the incidence of melanoma in the United States and saving lives. The docu-series aligns closely with La Roche-Posay's long-running global public health campaign that is focused on sun safety, skin cancer awareness and the importance of daily, broad spectrum UV protection.
"At La Roche-Posay, we believe that innovation in skin protection only matters if it is paired with powerful education. While skin cancer is one of the most preventable health challenges, it continues to affect millions annually, and our mission is to close the gap between awareness and life-saving action. We are thrilled to partner with Dr. Whitney Bowe and Fran Brescia-Coniglio to amplify this message and provide the tools for consumers protect their skin. Together, we are determined to transform how people of all ages view sun safety, making consistent protection a universal standard for healthy skin," said Justin Hartman, La Roche-Posay VP of Marketing.
