The American Academy of Dermatology

The American Academy of Dermatology, for decades, has kept up a drumbeat on behalf of faith in an epidemic of melanoma and rays of the sun as the major cause of it, at the same time that it has flayed, incessantly, the tanning bed industry. Although the organization is termed an Academy, never has it presented in fashion academic a whit of evidence, available readily, contrary to its position entrenched, namely, there is no epidemic of melanoma ... and that tanning beds have not been proven to be a cause direct of melanoma.

- Dr. A. Bernard Ackerman, The Sun and the “Epidemic” of Melanoma: Myth on Myth!

Despite calling itself an academy, when it comes to the sun the American Academy of Dermatology’s (ADD) behavior resembles a conspiracy theorist's rather than that of a measured academic body. That might have something to do with the millions of dollars has received over the years from the sunscreen industry.

To that point, the AAD is currently waging a bruising internal battle over its “Seal of Recognition” program for sunscreen products. The program, which was launched in April 2007, licenses the AAD’s seal in exchange for a “contribution” of $10,000, plus an additional $10,000 annual fee. Given its obvious conflicts of interest, many members of the Academy have publically chastised the program as “whorish” and “revolting.”

Read more about the AAD’s pay-for-play scandal here

Background on the Scandal

Dr. A. Bernard Ackerman, an honorary member of the AAD and a recipient of its prestigious Master Dermatologist award, is a leading opponent of the Seal program, calling it a “shocking conflict of interest.” In addition to Dr. Ackerman, more 60 other respected AAD members submitted a petition demanding that the Academy address their concerns at the 2008 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.

After receiving his petition, the AAD’s Board agreed to allow Dr. Ackerman to voice his concerns about the Seal program at a special session in February 2008. During the closed-door meeting, Dr. Ackerman was opposed by the Academy’s President, Vice President, and the Chairman of the Melanoma/Skin Cancer Committee, which oversees the Seal of Recognition program.

AAD On the Take

    Shockingly, all three AAD representatives defending the program have ties to companies that manufacture sunscreen products:
  • Dr. Diane Baker,
    AAD’s 2007 President
    Dr. Diane Baker
    L'Oreal
    OrthroNeutrogena
    Galderma
    Merck
  • Dr. Henry Lim,
    AAD’s 2007 Vice President
    Dr. Henry Lim Johnson + Johnson
  • Dr. James Spencer
     
    Dr. James Spencer
    L'Oreal
    Neutrogena

Membership has its Benefits

Paying for the AAD’s Seal of Recognition can really pay off. In addition to using the AAD’s logo on product packaging, it appears the AAD is willing to send out press releases endorsing a company’s products.

Aveeno and AAD seal

For instance, Aveeno’s Continuos Protection SPF 55 lotion, which is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, was the first product to pay for the seal. Apparently in exchange for the $30,000 Johnson & Johnson paid for the seal (according to the Academy’s fee structure), the AAD put out a press release touting the program and mentioning both of Aveeno’s products. Aveeno also put out its own release two months earlier.

Aveeno is of particular interest considering that the AAD's 2007 Vice President Dr. Henry Lim has a financial relationship with Johnson & Johnson.

Doctors Baker, Lim, and Spencer are by no means alone in presenting potentially significant conflicts of interest. The 2008 “Faculty Disclosure” chapter of the Annual Meeting Program book list ten pages of financial relationships between the Academy’s faculty and nearly every sunscreen company.

See the complete faculty disclosure list here

Corporate Sponsors

The AAD’s staff and officers aren’t alone in presenting significant conflicts of interest when it comes to being on the take. The Academy itself has received millions of dollars from sunscreen manufacturers like Neutrogena, Coppertone, and Procter & Gamble Click here to see the AAD 2006 Corporate Partners (on Page 19).

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