AVANT Institute to focus on acne and skin care formulations at Winter 2013 symposium

BRIDGEWATER, NJ - Did you know that P. acnes, the bacterium responsible for acne, may protect itself through a biofilm? Or that consumers afflicted with acne show an exaggerated immune response to P. acnes compared to those without acne? These and other enlightening skin care research revelations will be presented in depth when Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), hosts its AVANT Institute Winter 2013 Symposium on December 11th at the Liberty Science Center, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Entitled "Towards Skin Perfection: From Understanding Acne to Innovative Formulations," the one-day symposium will examine the science of acne, from causes to therapy to formulations that help perfect the look of skin.

"Acne is the single most common skin disorder. Over 90% of the population will at sometime during their lives be affected by acne. Consumers are forever seeking to perfect the look of their skin, but so many struggle with acne on a daily basis," said Dr. Paul Mouser, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Ashland. "In bringing together some of the foremost authorities in the world on acne and skin care at the upcoming symposium, we can help formulators better develop effective solutions that enable consumers to easily achieve a flawless look."

The topics include an array of presentations spanning from pathology to product development. Among the papers are:

• "Acne Pathogenesis: Overview and recent advances," by Professor Diane Thiboutot;
• "Scarring and Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation," by Dr. Mouser;
• "Metabolomics of Sebum in Healthy and Diseased Skin Conditions," by Dr. Emanuela Camera;
• "Applying the Biofilm Concept to Acne: the Case of Propionibacterium acnes," by Professor Tom Coenye;
• "Mild Cleansing and Moisturizing Approaches for Consumers with Acne and Oily Skin," by Dr. Martin Vethamuthu;
• "Targeted Drug Delivery for Acne Therapy: Lost in Translation," by Professor Annika Vogt;
• "Challenges to the Discovery and Development of an Acne Product," by Dr. Braham Shroot; and
• "Spectroscopic Studies of Deposition of Care Products on Skin," by Dr. Mark Davies.

The Avant Institute was established by Ashland Specialty Ingredients in 2009 to foster and promote scientific research relevant to the development and commercialization of technologies for the personal care industry. Over the past four years, the company has hosted or sponsored several international symposia. Ashland extends an open invitation to qualified personal care professionals to attend the Winter 2013 Symposium. For more information and to register, contact Linda Heider (LHeider@ashland.com).

About Ashland Specialty Ingredients
Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers industry-leading products, technologies and resources for solving formulation and product performance challenges in key markets including personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, coatings and energy. Using natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers derived from plant and seed extract, cellulose ethers and vinyl pyrrolidones, Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for today's demanding consumer and industrial applications.

About Ashland
In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatin gs, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Linda Heider
Ashland Specialty Ingredients
lheider@ashland.com