L'Oreal's Symposium

In Miami, yook place from 9 to 11 November, 2007, the fourth international symposium on ethnic hair and skin sponsored by L'Oreal Institute for Ethnic Hair and Skin Research. The symposium was a partnership of Institute for Ethnic Hair and Skin Research with Howard University College of Medicine Department of Dermatology. What happened there? You can see below.......

L'Oreal Institute for Ethnic Hair and Skin Research Press Release:

The fourth international symposium on ethnic hair and skin, a gathering of respected scientific thought leaders, will convene November 9-11, 2007 in Miami, Fla. The symposium is sponsored by the L'Oreal Institute for Ethnic Hair and Skin Research in partnership with Howard University College of Medicine Department of Dermatology.

This year's symposium, "Ethnic Hair and Skin: Defining the Research Agenda," will bring together 28 presenters from around the world who will discuss the latest ethnic-specific research with an audience of researchers, dermatologists, other physicians and scientists from academia, industry and private practice. The three day event will be held at the Mandarin Oriental located at 500 Brickell Key Drive in Miami, Fla.

Presentations will include the latest findings from basic and clinical research on ethnic hair and skin, and also highlight cosmetic and pharmaceutical product development, safety and efficacy.
"New findings presented at the symposium outline breakthrough research and solutions for common ethnic hair and skin problems," said Harold Bryant, acting director of the L'Oreal Institute for Ethnic Hair and Skin Research. "This symposium is one of the many ways L'Oreal demonstrates ongoing commitment to the larger scientific community by creating dialogue and encouraging scientific progress about the real concerns of men and women of African descent and other ethnicities."

Bryant added, "Many hair and skin conditions worsen over time and carry long term implications down the road. The solutions presented at each L'Oreal symposium have offered hope to people through treatment steps for problems that they thought they might have to live with their entire lives."

The research this year includes findings about the following dermatological issues confronting ethnic consumers:

-- The origin of hair shape and specific properties of curly hair
-- Common side effects from improper use of hair relaxers
-- How ethnic hairstyles/scalp disorders affect exercise habits
-- Comparing the effects of aging and photo-aging on skin across
ethnicities
-- Common dermatological problems by ethnicity
-- Foundation strategies for women of various skin tones
-- New chemical peel regimens that can safely treat hyper-pigmentation
-- Lasers that are now safe to resurface darker skin with acne scars

"Since 80 percent of the world's population is of ethnic descent it's essential that the scientific community recognize the structure and function of ethnic hair and skin," said Dr. Rebat Halder, chairman of the Howard University Department of Dermatology and co-chair of the symposium. "Most of the scientific community's understanding of the structure and function of hair and skin used to only come from research on Caucasian people so these presentations and the work of L'Oréal's Institute are significant in broadening our knowledge base."

The symposium will also feature a keynote address by Soledad O'Brien, the award winning journalist and CNN anchor who will discuss Diversity and the Media.

"The research presented at this year's symposium helps to meet the needs and improve hair and skin products for billions of ethnic consumers," said Victoria Holloway Barbosa, MD, MPH, assistant professor at the Rush University Medical Center Department of Dermatology and chair of the symposium. "L'Oreal continues to be a driver of this type of scientific discussion which is so important for future research and innovation."

About the L'Oreal Institute

The Ethnic Hair and Skin Research Symposium is a natural extension of L'Oreal's commitment to science and to its consumer base. As a company serving the beauty needs of people worldwide, the need for science that reflects the global community is evident. The conference strives to provide the most recent and relevant ethnic scientific research through its program format. The conference's focus on ethnic research provides a unique forum to house a scientific dialogue among basic and clinical researchers in academics, industry and private practice, on a subject that has historically not received enough attention.

About Howard University College of Medicine

Founded in 1868, the Howard University College of Medicine was the first medical school in the United States dedicated to training African-American physicians. Under the leadership of Dr. John A. Kenney, Jr., the Department of Dermatology became a full department, separate from internal medicine, in 1973. The department continues to thrive with a diverse faculty, a residency-training program, and active clinical and laboratory research in skin diseases that specifically affect ethnic populations. An Institute for Black Skin Research was established within the department in 1999.

Source: L'Oreal Institute for Ethnic Hair and Skin Research