Go to AAD Home
Donate For Public and Patients Store Search
Go to AAD Home
Main menu
Membership
Meetings & Education
Practice management
Clinical & quality
Publications & apps
Career development
Advocacy
Back
Account
Pay dues
Member ID
Join the AAD
Member benefits
Find a member
AAD governance
Support AAD
Community Programs
AAD Help Center
2026 Innovation Academy
2027 Annual Meeting
Academy meetings archive
Professional education
Claim CME & view transcript
Upcoming events
Residents & medical students
Patient education materials
DataDerm
Coding Resource Center
MIPS & fee schedule
Teledermatology
EHR & health tech
Insurance & drugs
Compliance & practice scope
Managing your practice
Contact PM staff
Clinical guidelines
Quality measures
DataDerm
Quality & patient safety
Clinical Community
Clinical care resources
Position statements
JAAD
JAAD International
JAAD Case Reports
Dermatology World
DermWorld Insights & Inquiries
Derm Coding Consult
DermWorld Meeting News
Impact Report
Other publications
Academy Apps
Career launch
Job board
Burnout & wellness
Diversity
Awards, grants, and scholarships
Leadership Institute
Volunteer opportunities
Ethics & professionalism
Take action
Advocacy priorities
State advocacy resources
Legislative Conference
Position statements
Promote the specialty
Key Contacts
Patient advocate resources
SkinPAC
Advocacy Update
Welcome!

AAD letter to the New York Times in response to “3 Medical Routines that Older People May Not Need”

American Academy of Dermatology President Murad Alam, MD, MSCI, MBA, FAAD
 Letter to the editor originally submitted to the New York Times on May 4, 2026

ROSEMONT, Ill. (May 4, 2026) — 3 Medical Routines that Older People May Not Need, by Paula Span, imprudently suggests that patients should not receive treatment for certain conditions, including actinic keratoses (AKs). AKs are precancerous skin growths that can become squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which can cause pain, disfigurement, sensory loss, and, in some cases, death. The reality is that several thousand Americans die of advanced SCC of the skin every year. It is impossible to predict which AKs will become SCCs, and most people with AKs have not just one but many, magnifying their risk of developing a serious SCC. Patients should be encouraged to receive prompt treatment for AKs so that these do not develop into SCCs, which require more intensive and invasive treatments. Advising people to avoid treatment and just watch AKs is irresponsible, does not reduce the need to continually see dermatologists, creates needless worry for patients, and increases patients' risk for developing cancer that could easily have been avoided.

# # #

Contact

Shelby Homiston, shomiston@aad.org

Nia Carter, ncarter@aad.org

About the AAD

Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 21,500 physicians worldwide, the AAD 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 because skin, hair, and nail conditions can have a serious impact on your health and well-being. For more information, contact the AAD at (888) 462-DERM (3376) or aad.org. Follow @AADskin on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube and @AADskin1 on Instagram.