This October, both skin care professionals and clients will be overwhelmed with pink ribbons in support of breast cancer awareness. As more and more products and companies pop up with pink ribbons, skin care professionals should be aware of the distraction that they can cause. While the pink ribbon was originally designed to draw attention to the women and men who courageously fight breast cancer, it has gradually taken a life of its own. The pink ribbon is starting to take away from the people who struggle daily with this deadly disease. Breast cancer awareness is not about clever slogans and pink pens; it is about educating people about the realistic risks of developing breast cancer and taking action to end the disease that will kill approximately 40,290 people this year. While awareness has seemingly stopped at the pink ribbon and pink household items, there is much more of which to be aware. For example, one-third of all breast cancers will metastasize; black women are 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, and, in the United States alone, three million people are fighting the disease. Furthermore, remember that people do not just struggle with breast cancer during the month of October; families and breast cancer organizations would like support and donations any time throughout the year. As October approaches, try to remember the real purpose of breast cancer awareness: ending this terminal disease. Skin care professionals can do this by focusing on the heroes who have battled this disease and do everything they can to support them and increase their quality of life.Want to read more? Subscribe to one of our monthly plans to continue reading this article.