American Academy of Dermatology to phase out AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION® program
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Dec. 3 2009) —The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has decided to phase out its AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION® program over the next two years, and will cease accepting new applications effective immediately. Products which were accepted into the program prior to November 15, 2009, will continue to carry the AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION® until the end of their two-year terms.
“With the expectation that the FDA will soon be issuing a sunscreen monograph that will likely be aligned with the stringent criteria of the AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION® program, the Board of Directors determined that the need for the program would be diminished and decided to phase out the program,” said dermatologist David M. Pariser, M.D., president of the American Academy of Dermatology.
“While reaffirming its recognition of the sun-protection benefits of the products currently in the program, the Board agreed that the Academy’s resources now should be focused on enhancing its other public education efforts to increase awareness of the dangers of excessive sun exposure and to encourage positive behavior change with respect to sun protection,” Dr. Pariser said.
The objectives of the AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION® program are to help educate the public about the dangers of sun exposure and help decrease the incidence of skin cancer by giving the public a reliable method to make an informed decision when choosing sun-protection products.
“Public education about sun protection is the first line of defense against skin cancer,” he said. “The FDA sunscreen monograph is expected to provide additional guidance to manufacturers regarding sunscreen product development and testing, and require new labeling which is expected to help consumers choose effective sun-protection products,” he said.
About the AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION® program
The AAD recognizes that proper and regular use of sunscreens with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or higher and broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) protection, along with wearing sun-protective clothing and seeking shade, will help protect against sunburn and may reduce long-term damage to the skin caused by sun exposure.
The AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION®, awarded only to those products that meet stringent evidence-based scientific criteria for sun protection, helps raise public awareness of the dangers of unprotected sun exposure. Since 2007, the program has recognized products for their sun-protection benefit based on review of independent testing results which demonstrate that the products meet stringent, evidence-based sun-protection criteria as verified by a panel of dermatologists and an independent scientist. Consumers may continue to count on the added reassurance of the SEAL until the FDA’s expected new guidance goes into effect.
Current AAD SEAL participants
◦AminoGenesis (term ends 9.4.2010)
AminoGenesis™ Anti-Aging Day Cream with SPF 18
AminoGenesis™ Derma Scyne™ Wrinkle arrest with SPF 18
◦Coolibar® (term ends 4.20.2011)
Sun-Protection Clothing UPF 50+ (A complete line of more than 200 sun-protective garments, including shirts and blouses, trousers, skirts, jackets and pullovers, and apparel for biking, swimming, golf and other outdoor sports and activities.)
◦Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company (term ends 3.7.2011)
AVEENO® CONTINUOUS PROTECTION™ SUNBLOCK SPF 55
AVEENO® Baby CONTINUOUS PROTECTION™ SUNBLOCK SPF 55
◦Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC (term ends 3.1.2011)
Mederma® Cream plus SPF 30
About the American Academy of Dermatology
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at (888) 462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.
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