Teens take acne care on the go

Drug Store News,  May 20, 2002  by Molly Prior

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Busy teenagers fill their backpacks, gym bags and purses with portable toiletries to take them from class to sports practice and later out with friends. Chattem, maker of pHisoderm, has come up with an innovative way for them to take their acne treatment along, as well. Next month, the company will begin shipping Clear Swab, the latest addition to the pHisoderm Clear Confidence skin care line. Clean Swab, a portable pack of 24 swabs filled with acne-fighting solution, offers convenience and a more sanitary way to apply treatment, said Gail Jenkins, marketing director at Chattem. Once users snap off the top of the swab, the solution inside flows to the bottom and can then be dotted on problem areas. The product piggy-backs on the portable toiletries trend started in large part by prestige companies, such as Prada with its individually packaged skin care products. A handful of mass brands have followed suit, such as Unilever HPC with its Pond's Age Cleansing Towelettes and Procter & Gamble with Crest Whitestrips.

To support the pHisoderm Clear Confidence line, Chattem has allotted $8.8 million in measured media this year, $3 million of which is dedicated to the Swab Clear. The new line may help pHisoderm gain ground in the acne treatment category. pHisoderm's drug store sales dipped 14.4 percent to $1.28 million for the 52 weeks ending March 24, according IRI data.

Three-pack trial samples will be distributed to key rug stores and grocery accounts, and by direct mail.

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