Average Canadians Scratches Itchy Body Spots For Nearly Half the Year (5.2 Months), While One in Five (21%) Scratch All Year

Toronto, ON - A new study conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Spectro reveals that the average Canadian scratches the itchy places on their body for nearly half the calendar year (approximately 5.2 months). One in five (21%) Canadians even indicate scratching itchy places on their body for all 12 months of the year.

With Canada's formidable cold winter knocking on the door, the time for increases in dry, itchy skin and runny noses will have many Canadians scratching and reaching for the tissue box to fight these annoyances. Majority of Canadians indicate that dry, itchy skin (54%) and a runny nose (53%) `bothers' (bothers me very much/somewhat) during the Canadian winter, with minorities (46% - dry, itchy skin/47% - runny nose) saying these don't bother them.

• Women (65%) are significantly more likely than men (43%) to say they're bothered by dry, itchy skin. They're also more likely to indicate being bothered by a runny nose (56% vs. 49% of men)
• Younger Canadians, ages 18-34, cite being bothered more by a runny nose (68%) and dry, itchy skin (66%) than their middle-aged, ages 35-54, (51% runny nose/54% dry, itchy skin), and senior, ages 55+, (42% runny nose/46% dry, itchy skin) counterparts

With most Canadians bothered by dry, itchy skin during cold Canadian winters, they should be anticipating scratching those itchy places on their bodies, with legs being the most likely culprit for a good scratch according to respondents.

When asked to what the itchiest places on their body is, a plurality (29%) of Canadians chose `legs' as the itchiest spot on their body, followed by their `head' (16%) and `hands' (15%). The full list of itchiest body parts, according to Canadians, looks as follows:

• Legs - 29%
• Head - 16%
• Hands - 15%
• Arms - 13%
• Face - 7%
• Feet - 7%
• Other - 14%

Women (37%) are significantly more likely than men (20%) to indicate that the itchiest part of their body is their legs, while men (17%) are significantly more likely to cite arms as their itchiest spot compared to women (10%).

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between October 4th to 9th, 2013 on behalf of Spectro. For this survey, a sample of 1,046 Canadians from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/- 3.5 percentage points had all Canadians adults been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Sean Simpson
Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
416.572.4474
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.

With offices in 85 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,789 billion (2.300 billion USD) in 2012.